Latest QuikSCAT pass from ~3-4hr ago largely missed the center of the depression, but suggests some non-rain flagged 35-40kt wind vectors to the north and northeast of the center. The cloud pattern has not improved since the 5p advisory -- the convection has not drawn any closer to the center -- but I think we'll see this one upgraded to Irene at 11pm. In its favor are the comments from the 11a and 5p discussions towards this effect. The innards of the storm are healthy per the latest SSM/I microwave imager pass on the 37GHz band; the convective structures, however, aren't as healthy per all of the other bands & IR imagery. It's not the classic tropical storm by any means, but the fact that it is firing convection to the east of the center suggests that it is a lot closer than yesterday.

We'll see at 11p. No change to the forecast track thinking right now.