There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

None.

At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Rene was located near latitude 18.0 North, longitude 32.7 West. Rene is moving toward the westnorthwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and a motion toward the westnorthwest is expected for the next couple of days, followed by a turn to the northwest. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Rene is expected to be near hurricane strength by Friday night.

Tropicalstormforce winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

Although the cloud pattern of Rene has changed little in overall organization since earlier today, there are some indications that the easterly shear over the storm has diminished somewhat. Cirrus cloud motions show that upper-level outflow is slightly more evident over the eastern portion of the circulation, but it remains limited over that region. The current intensity estimate remains 35 kt in agreement with a Dvorak estimate from TAFB. Vertical shear is predicted to be modest over Rene during the next couple of days, and this should allow for some strengthening. The official intensity forecast is similar to the model consensus and continues to show the system becoming a hurricane, albeit briefly. After day 3, the western portion of a large upper-level trough over the eastern Atlantic is likely to impart increased shear, which should lead to weakening. Conventional satellite and microwave fixes show a continued west-northwestward motion at about 285/11 kt. Rene is currently located on the southwest side of a mid-level ridge over the eastern Atlantic. A weakness in the ridge in the vicinity of 40W-45W longitude should induce a turn toward the northwest and north-northwest in 3-5 days. By the end of the forecast period, Rene's forward progress begins to be blocked by building mid-level heights to its north and northwest, which should cause the cyclone's forward motion to slow down significantly. The official track forecast has been adjusted farther to the left of the previous one, to be closer to the latest model consensus.