Former Tropical Depression Eleven strengthened to Tropical Storm Josephine on Thursday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Josephine was located at latitude 13.7°N and longitude 49.2°W which put it about 975 miles (1565 km) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands.  Josephine was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

Satellite imagery indicated that the circulation around former Tropical Depression Eleven exhibited better organization on Thursday morning and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Josephine.  Although the circulation around Tropical Storm Josephine was more organized, the distribution of thunderstorms and wind speeds was still asymmetrical.  Many of the stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northwestern part of Josephine.  Bands in other parts of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) on the northern side of Tropical Storm Josephine.  The winds in the southern half of the circulation were mostly weaker than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Josephine will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next day or so.  Josephine will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Josephine is forecast to strengthen during the next 24 to 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Josephine will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the North Atlantic Ocean.  The high will steer Josephine toward the west-northwest during he next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Josephine could be near the northern Leeward Islands on Saturday.