Personally, I do not understand the TPC's reluctance to upgrade TD 6. Structural organization has been improving over the past few hours. Mid-level rotation is more prominent, too.
Look at the latest shortwave imagery.
Observations indicate an increasing westerly component to the sfc winds south and west of the center. Additionally, the stations at
Grenada and
Saint Vincent/Grenadines have been reporting an increasing ENE and NNE component to the winds, which would indicate a better defined center approaching the area. Barbados has been reporting winds near 25 kts (more than 20 miles from the LLC), and higher one-minute values have been indicated by flight-level reconnaissance obs. The system's close proximity to land (warnings and watches) would definitely warrant an upgrade, too. I would appreciate the TPC's reasoning for their decision. Satellite presentation is irrelevant when the actual data supports a marginal tropical storm.
DATE/TIME LAT LON CLASSIFICATION STORM
31/2345 UTC 11.4N 59.2W T2.5/2.5 06L
T numbers suggest winds of 34 kts. I think the TPC is waiting for convective persistence, but the majority of available data suggests prudence is the best choice. Felix should have been named at 8 p.m. EDT. I strongly respect the NHC, but I'm puzzled about this situation. Other systems were promptly upgraded, and TD 6 is too close to the Windward Islands.