Tropical Storm Philippe drifted over the Atlantic Ocean east of the Leeward Islands on Saturday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located at latitude 16.1°N and longitude 57.0°W which put it about 430 miles (690 km) east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. Philippe was moving toward the southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 999 mb.

Tropical Storm Philippe continued to drift slowly east of the Leeward Islands on Saturday. The circulation around Tropical Storm Philippe did not change much on Saturday. An upper level ridge over the eastern Caribbean Sea produced northwesterly winds that blew toward the top of Philippe’s circulation. Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear caused the distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Philippe to be asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southeastern part of Philippe’s circulation. Bands near the center of Tropical Storm Philippe and in the other parts of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The distribution of wind speeds was also asymmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) in the eastern side of Philippe’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) in the western side of Tropical Storm Philippe.

Tropical Storm Philippe will move through a region that will become marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Philippe will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. However, the upper level ridge will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear during the first half of Sunday. The upper level winds could weaken later on Sunday. If the upper level winds weaken, then the strong wind shear will decrease and Tropical Storm Philippe could start to intensify.

Tropical Storm Philippe will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Philippe toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Philippe could move a little closer to the Northern Leeward Islands on Sunday.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Rina weakened northeast of Tropical Storm Philippe. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Rina was located at latitude 23.5°N and longitude 52.8°W which put it about 760 miles (1220 km) east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. Rina was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 1004 mb.