Tropical Storm Sean, still a potent tropical storm, has been slowly increasing in forward speed to the north. Given the orientation of the front that will exit the east coast Thursday evening, Sean may move more to the north northeast rather than northeast and extratropical transition is likely before the storm merges with the front. The central eye-like feature which had been contracting on Wednesday, is now expanding again and along with some dry air entrainment, warming cloud tops, slowly cooling SSTs and increasing southwesterly shear, the chances for additional intensification are probably on the decline.
ED