Tropical Storm Don started to make a big, clockwise loop over the Atlantic Ocean west of the Azores on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Don was located at latitude 37.4°N and longitude 40.4°W which put it about 735 miles (1180 km) west of the Azores. Don was moving toward the southeast 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. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.

Former Subtropical Storm Don went through several stages as it made a transition to a tropical storm. Don weakened to a subtropical depression on Sunday while it was over cooler water and in a region with more vertical wind shear. It made a transition from a subtropical depression to a tropical depression on Monday morning, when more thunderstorms developed in the northeastern part of the circulation. Don then strengthened to a tropical storm on Monday evening.

Tropical Storm Don was over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures were near 24˚C on Monday evening. The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Don remained asymmetrical. Most of thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northeastern part of Don’s circulation. The strongest winds were also occurring in that part of Tropical Storm Don. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) in the northeastern part of Don. Bands in the other parts of Tropical Storm Don consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The winds in the other parts of Don’s circulation were blowing at less that tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Don will move through an environment that will be only marginally favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Don will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 25˚C. It will move under the eastern side of an upper level low over the Central Atlantic Ocean. The upper level low will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Don’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Don could strengthen a little during the next 36 hours, but its intensity may not change much.

Tropical Storm Don will move around the northern part of a high pressure system over the Central Atlantic Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high pressure system will steer Don toward the south during the next 36 hours. Don is likely to move toward the west on later this week. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Don will make a big, clockwise loop west of the Azores during the next few days.