Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene continued to spin over the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Paulette was located at latitude 20.5°N and longitude 47.4°W which put it about 1035 miles (1665 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands.  Paulette was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Paulette was asymmetrical due to wind shear being cause by an upper level ridge over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.  Paulette was under the western end of the ridge where there were strong winds blowing from the south.  Those winds were blowing toward the top of Tropical Storm Paulette and they were causing strong vertical wind shear.  As a result of the shear, the strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands northeast of the center of Paulette.  Bands in other parts of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles to the north of the center of circulation.  Winds in the southern half of Paulette were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Paulette will move through an environment that is mostly unfavorable for intensification during the next day or two.  Paulette will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27.5°C.  However, the upper level ridge will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Paulette is likely to weaken during the next 24 hours.  Paulette could move into an area where the upper level winds are not as strong during the weekend.  It could start to strengthen at that time.

Tropical Storm Paulette will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high will steer Paulette toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Paulette could be northeast of the Leeward Islands on Saturday.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Rene was located at latitude 18.0°N and longitude 32.7°W which put it about 590 miles (950 km) west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.  Rene was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

Tropical Storm Rene was moving under the southern part of the same upper level ridge that was affecting Tropical Storm Paulette.  Easterly winds were blowing toward the top of Rene’s circulation.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  As a result of the shear, the strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Tropical Storm Rene.  Bands in the eastern half of Rene consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) on the northwestern side of Tropical Storm Rene.  The winds in the other parts of Rene were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Rene will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next day or two.  Rene will move over water where Sea Surface Temperature is near 26°C.  The upper level ridge will continue to cause vertical wind shear, but the shear could decrease enough at times to allow Tropical Storm Rene to strengthen.

Tropical Storm Rene will also move south of the subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic.  The high will steer Rene toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Rene will move farther away from the Cabo Verde Islands.