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.

Tropical Storm Philippe meandered over the Atlantic Ocean east of the Leeward Islands on Friday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 55.8°W which put it about 480 miles (775 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Philippe was moving toward the southwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 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 1002 mb.

Tropical Storm Rina moved around formed the northeastern periphery of Tropical Storm Philippe on Friday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Rina was located at latitude 20.4°N and longitude 48.8°W which put it about 945 miles (1520 km) east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. Rina was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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.

The circulations around Tropical Storm Philippe and Tropical Storm Rina continued to interact on Friday. Philippe and Rina revolved around a point between the centers of the two tropical storms in a motion called the Fujiwhara effect. An upper level trough over the Atlantic Ocean east of Bermuda produced westerly winds that were blowing toward the top of Philippe’s circulation. Those winds were causing 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 eastern side of Philippe’s circulation. Bands near the center of Tropical Storm Philippe and in the western half 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 140 miles (220 km) in the eastern side of Philippe’s circulation. The winds in the western side of Tropical Storm Philippe were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Philippe was also affecting Tropical Storm Rina. Upper level divergence from Philippe was adding to the westerly winds blowing toward the top of Rina’ circulation. Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear in Tropical Storm Rina. The wind shear also caused the distribution of thunderstorms in Rina to be asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Rina were in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Rina’s circulation. Bands in the northern and western parts of Rina consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (220 km) in the eastern part of Rina’s circulation. Winds in the western side of Rina were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Philippe will move through a region unfavorable 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 trough east of Bermuda will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear. The strong wind shear is likely to keep Tropical Storm Philippe from intensifying on Saturday.

The interaction between Tropical Storm Philippe and Tropical Storm Rina will continue on Saturday. Philippe and Rina will continue their counterclockwise loop around a point in between the two tropical storms. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Philippe will move slowly toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. Tropical Storm Rina is forecast to move toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Philippe stalled east of the Leeward Islands on Thursday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 55.0°W which put it about 530 miles (855 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Philippe was moving toward the west-southwest 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.

Tropical Storm Rina formed over the Atlantic Ocean about 550 miles (890 km) east of Tropical Storm Philippe on Thursday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Rina was located at latitude 18.4°N and longitude 46.6°W which put it about 1080 miles (1740 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Rina was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.

Tropical Storm Philippe stalled east of the Leeward Islands on Thursday when the circulation around Philippe began to interact with the circulation around Tropical Storm Rina. Philippe also weakened a little on Thursday. An upper level trough over the Caribbean Sea was producing southerly winds that were blowing toward the top of Philippe’s circulation. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear. The low level center of Tropical Storm Philippe was large and weak. The wind shear was also causing the distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Philippe to be asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern side of Philippe’s circulation. Bands near the center of Tropical Storm Philippe and in the western half 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 140 miles (220 km) in the eastern side of Philippe’s circulation. The winds in the western side of Tropical Storm Philippe were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Philippe was also affecting Tropical Storm Rina. Upper level divergence from Philippe was causing vertical wind shear in Tropical Storm Rina. The wind shear was causing the distribution of thunderstorms in Rina to be asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Rina were in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Rina’s circulation. Bands in the northern and western parts of Rina consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the eastern part of Rina’s circulation. Winds in the western side of Rina were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Philippe will move through a region unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Philippe will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. However, the upper level trough over the Caribbean Sea will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear. The strong wind shear is likely to keep Tropical Storm Philippe from intensifying on Friday.

The interaction between Tropical Storm Philippe and Tropical Storm Rina will increase on Friday. Philippe and Rina are likely to start a counterclockwise loop around a point in between the two tropical storms. The situation when two tropical cyclones loop around a point between them is sometimes called the Fujiwhara effect. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Philippe will move slowly toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. Tropical Storm Rina is forecast to move slowly toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.