MIAMI, Florida – NOAA’s National Hurricane Center issued a Public Advisory at 5 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday,  September 8, 2020, due to the presence of Tropical Storm Rene (formerly Invest 93L and Tropical Depression 18) over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Rene is the earliest 17th named storm of any Atlantic season by 11 days. The previous record was Rita, which formed on September 18, 2005.

Tropical Storm Rene Projected Path

Tropical Storm Rene is located about 40 miles south-southeast of Santo Antao, Cabo Verde Islands, and is moving to the west at 15 mph (24 km/h).

NHC forecasters say that a motion toward the west to west-northwest is expected over the next few days.

On the official NHC forecast track, the center of Rene will pass over the central and western Cabo Verde Islands today, and then move away from the islands tonight.

Tropical Storm Rene Computer Models

The computer models have shifted eastward at the longer ranges, especially the ECMWF European model, and the NHC forecast has been adjusted in that direction at days 3 through 5.

Tropical Storm Rene Category Strength

Tropical Storm Rene has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), with higher gusts.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center of the tropical cyclone.

Little change in strength is expected today, followed by gradual strengthening tonight into Thursday.

Rene could become a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale in two or three days.