Former Tropical Storm Arlene weakened to a tropical depression northwest of Cuba on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Arlene was located at latitude 24.2°N and longitude 85.1°W which put it about 145 miles (230 km) west-southwest of Dry Tortugas. Arlene was moving toward the south-southeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1000 mb.
Former Tropical Storm Arlene weakened to a tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico northwest of Cuba on Saturday morning. An upper level trough over the eastern Gulf of Mexico produced westerly winds that blew across the top of Arlene’s circulation. Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear. In addition, drier air was pulled into the circulation around former Tropical Storm Arlene. The combination of strong vertical wind shear and drier air caused many of the thunderstorms in Arlene’s circulation to weaken. Most of the bands revolving around the center of Tropical Depression Arlene consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. There were still a few thunderstorms in bands on the eastern side of Arlene.
Tropical Depression Arlene will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Arlene will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27˚C.’ However, the southern part of the upper level trough over the eastern Gulf of Mexico will continue to produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Arlene’s circulation. Those winds will keep causing the strong vertical wind shear. The drier air in the circulation around Arlene will continue to inhibit the formation of thunderstorms. The strong vertical wind shear and the drier air are likely to cause Tropical Depression Arlene to continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Depression Arlene will be south of a large surface high pressure system over the eastern U.S. The high pressure system will move south on Saturday and it will push Arlene toward the east-southeast. On its anticipated track Tropical Depression Arlene will move north of Cuba by Saturday evening.
