There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

SURF: Large swells generated by Tropical Storm Teddy are expected to reach the Lesser Antilles and the northeastern coast of South America on Wednesday. These swells are likely to cause life threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Teddy was located near latitude 14.6 North, longitude 47.9 West. Teddy is moving toward the westnorthwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A steady northwest motion at 10 to 15 mph is expected through the end of the week.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Teddy could become a hurricane tonight. Teddy is forecast to be near major hurricane strength within a few days.

Tropicalstormforce winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb (29.44 inches).

ll, Teddy's organization has continued to slowly improve during the past several hours. AMSR microwave imagery near 1630 UTC showed that a low- to mid-level eye feature is beginning to form. The overall convective pattern has also improved, though not enough to increase the intensity estimates at this time, which only range from 45-55 kt. The intensity is therefore held at 55 kt, but it does appear that some intensification is imminent. The AMSR image showed indications of a microwave signature commonly associated with rapid intensification in favorable environments. Low shear and warm SSTs along the forecast track are certainly conducive, though dry air continues to be a possible limiting factor. The dry air is probably the reason that dry slots continue to occasionally appear in IR imagery near the center of Teddy. Rapid intensification probabilities are not particularly high; the SHIPS RI gives a 22 percent chance of a 30-kt increase during the next 24 h while DTOPS shows a mere 1 percent chance. The rest of the intensity models forecast only modest strengthening for the next couple of days. The NHC intensity forecast is at the top of the intensity guidance for the next 48 h and slightly above all of the models after that, but I am hesitant to lower it any further at this time given the recent microwave signature and overall improvement in Teddy's structure. In contrast, Teddy's track outlook remains straightforward, and no changes of note were made to the official forecast. The tropical storm is turning gradually toward the northwest and should begin moving in that direction tonight. A ridge over the central Atlantic should then steer Teddy in that general direction for the rest of the week. The model spread is still much lower than normal, and confidence in the track forecast is fairly high.