Sean Weakens to a Tropical Depression

Former Tropical Storm weakened to a tropical depression east of the Leeward Islands on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Sean was located at latitude 16.0°N and longitude 44.2°W which put it about 1255 miles (2020 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Sean was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Sean weakened slowly during the past 36 hours and the U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded Sean to a tropical depression on Saturday morning. A few more thunderstorms developed near the center of Sean’s circulation after it was downgraded to a tropical depression. There were also a few more thunderstorms in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Depression Sea. However, some bands still consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Tropical Depression Sean will move through an environment mostly unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Sean will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Sean’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. Tropical Depression Sean will move into an area where there is drier air. The vertical wind shear and the drier air are likely to cause Tropical Depression Sean to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Depression Sean will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends from West Africa to the central Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Sean toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Depression Sean will remain far east of the Northern Leeward Islands.