There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

None.

At 900 PM GMT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Theta was located near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 36.2 West. Theta is moving toward the eastnortheast near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days. Some slow weakening is expected by later this week. Tropicalstormforce winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 989 mb (29.21 inches).

A central dense overcast has persisted near the center of Theta since yesterday, and although the clouds tops have warmed over the past several hours there remains a distinct curved band feature over the northern portion of the circulation. Water vapor imagery shows the mid- upper-level trough that was over the Azores is beginning to leave the cyclone behind. Based on these factors, and the earlier indications of a compact radius of maximum winds, it appears that Theta has completed a transition to a tropical cyclone. Even though the clouds tops have recently warmed, the overall structure of Theta has not degraded by much since the previous advisory. Therefore, the initial intensity is being held at 60 kt.

The storm is moving 075/12 kt around the north side of a mid-level ridge. This feature should continue to steer Theta in a generally east-northeastward motion for the next few days. Late in the forecast period, the ridge will begin to weaken as another trough approaches from the northwest. This should cause the cyclone to slow its forward motion and begin to turn to the northeast. The latest model guidance has once again slowed down and the new NHC track forecast now lies between the previous one and the various consensus models.

Although Theta will be moving over progressively cooler SSTs and within moderate wind shear conditions, the air mass is expected to remain unstable for the next day or so, which should be supportive of deep convection. Therefore, little change is strength is indicated during that time. Some weakening is anticipated later in the forecast period as the airmass becomes more stable. By the end of the 5-day forecast period, the combination of the cooler waters and an approaching trough should result in extratropical transition. The NHC intensity forecast has changed little from the previous one and remains near the IVCN and HCCA consensus models.