GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Tropical Storm Philippe as of the 11 pm update, currently has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with gusts as high as 65 mph. Philippe’s storm structure continues to indicate a well-defined central dense overcast of showers and thunderstorms. However, southwesterly wind shear continues to displace most of the thunderstorms to the north and eastward sides of the storm’s circulation, and this will prevent Philippe from rapidly intensifying over the next several days.

5 a.m Monday advisory

According to the NHC forecast, Philippe is expected to move westward over the coming days while being steered by the North Atlantic Subtropical High. By Wednesday, a midlatitude jet stream will eventually recurve Philippe towards the north. The NHC’s intensity forecast only indicate slow, gradual strengthening for Tropical Storm Philippe.

The National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring an area of thunderstorms that have high odds of developing into a tropical cyclone over the next seven days

As for other areas to watch out for, there is a small disturbance off the coast of Africa that has a 70% chance of developing within the next seven days, and there is a small disturbance in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that has a 10% chance of developing over the next several days.

A small area of showers and thunderstorms has a slim chance of development over the coming days. However, upper-level winds and dry air are expected to increase in this region. These two factors may prevent this area from developing into a tropical system.

Stay with WITN and WITN.COM as we track the remaining storms this hurricane season.