Former Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened to a tropical depression early on Thursday.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Depression Cristobal was located at latitude 38.6°N and longitude 38.2°W which put the center about 610 miles (980 km) west of the Azores. Cristobal was moving toward the northeast at 16 m.p.h. (26 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 1014 mb.

A combination of cooler Sea Surface Temperatures and strong vertical wind shear caused former Tropical Storm Cristobal to weaken to a tropical depression early on Thursday.  Cristobal was moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24°C.  An upper level trough that is northwest of the Azores was producing strong westerly winds that were blowing across the top of Cristobal’s circulation.  Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear.

The combination of cooler Sea Surface Temperatures and strong vertical wind shear caused most of the thunderstorms in former Tropical Storm Cristobal to dissipate.  A few thunderstorms were still occurring in a band in the far eastern edge of Tropical Depression Cristobal.  The bands in the rest of Cristobal’s circulation consisted of showers and lower clouds.

Tropical Depression Cristobal will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Cristobal will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 23°C.  The upper level trough northwest of the Azores will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  Tropical Depression Cristobal will continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Depression Cristobal will move around the northern part of a high pressure system that is over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Cristobal toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Depression Cristobal will pass northwest of the western Azores.