it is interesting to note... because of the inner core symmetry and large eye, if the hurricane were to have deeper convection it probably would get satellite ratings in the cat 3 range. the storm has a ~50nm eye and a nearly complete ring of moderate convection--that's about the closest thing you can get to an annular hurricane in december, i guess.
noticed that jeff masters is speculating that the upper ridging that gfs is forecasting in the caribbean may allow something else to wake up. nothing real convincing on the models in that respect (disturbances on gfs and nogaps, but the easterly flow is too strong at low levels when the 'feature' isn't right along the coast of south america). gfs also hints at another cutoff out in the eastern atlantic around mid-month. no consistency on that, thus far.
HF 1948z04december