Tropical Storm Fernand moved east over the North Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Fernand was located at latitude 39.3°N and longitude 47.4°W which put the center about 585 miles (945 km) south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Fernand was moving toward the east-northeast at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 1006 mb.
Many of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Fernand dissipated on Wednesday as Fernand moved over cooler water. The circulation around Fernand consisted primarily of bands of showers and lower clouds.
Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Fernand.
Tropical Storm Fernand will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification of a tropical storm during the next 24 hours. Fernand will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 22°C. An upper level wind trough east of Canada will produce southwesterly winds that will blow across the top of Fernand’s circulation. Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear. The combination of cool water and strong vertical wind shear will cause Tropical Storm Fernand to weaken during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Fernand will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Fernand toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fernand will move southeast of Newfoundland on Thursday.
