Tropical Storm Fay developed southwest of the Azores on Saturday night. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Fay was located at latitude 33.7°N and longitude 33.1°W which put the center about 450 miles (730 km) southwest of the Azores. Fay was moving toward the north-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.
Former Tropical Depression Six strengthened on Saturday night and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Fay.
More thunderstorms developed near the center of Tropical Storm Fay on Saturday night. More thunderstorms also formed in bands revolving around the center of Fay’s circulation. Storms near the center of Fay generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Fay was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Fay’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Fay will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Fay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C. It will move north of a subtropical jet stream. Fay will stay south of the polar front jet stream. The upper level winds are weaker between the two jet streams. There will be some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Fay will intensify during the next 12 hours. Fay could rapidly intensify to a hurricane. The upper level winds are forecast to be stronger on Monday, which will cause Fay to start to weaken.
The steering currents are weak between the subtropical jet stream and the polar front jet stream. Tropical Storm Fay is likely to meander during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fay will remain far to the southwest of the Azores.