Tropical Depression Eleven formed over the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Eleven was located at latitude 11.7°N and longitude 40.0°W which put it about 1450 miles (2335 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.  The depression was moving toward the west 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 1007 mb.

More thunderstorms developed closer to the center of a low pressure system over the tropical Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Eleven.  The strongest thunderstorms were developing in bands in the western half of the depression.  Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation began to generate upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the depression.

Tropical Depression Eleven will move through an environment which will be favorable for intensification.  The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  Tropical Depression Eleven is currently moving the a region where the easterly winds are stronger in the lower atmosphere than they are at higher elevations.  The difference in wind speed is creating moderate vertical wind shear, which is contributing to the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.  The winds in the lower atmosphere are forecast to weaken, which will reduce the vertical wind shear.  When the shear is reduced Tropical Depression Eleven is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm.

Tropical Depression Eleven will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the North Atlantic Ocean.  The high will steer Tropical Depression Eleven toward the west-northwest during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Depression Eleven could approach the northern Leeward Islands on Saturday.  It will likely be a tropical storm by that time.