Tropical Storm Earl moved northeast of the Virgin Islands on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Earl was located at latitude 19.5°N and longitude 64.2°W which put it about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of St. Thomas. Earl was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

Tropical Storm Earl strengthened a little on Saturday as it moved northeast of the Virgin Islands. Even though Earl was a little stronger, the distribution of thunderstorms remained asymmetrical. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern half of Earl’s circulation. Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the northern side of Tropical Storm Earl. The winds on the southern side of Earl were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Earl will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Earl will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce southerly winds that will bow toward the top of Earl’s circulation. Those winds will cause vertical wind shear and the wind shear will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Earl could slowly intensify during the next 48 hours. Earl could strengthen to a hurricane next week.

Tropical Storm Earl will move around the southwestern part of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Earl toward the northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Earl will pass north of Puerto Rico on Sunday.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Danielle churned west of the Azores. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Danielle was located at latitude 38.1°N and longitude 45.1°W which put it about 985 miles (1580 km) west of the Azores. Danielle was moving toward the west at 2 m.p.h. (3 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.