I edited the main post with the basics of what recon found, but here's the vortex message:

URNT12 KNHC 011912
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 01/18:58:40Z
B. 23 deg 55 min N
085 deg 45 min W
C. NA mb NA m
D. 45 kt
E. 222 deg 011 nm
F. 329 deg 052 kt
G. 221 deg 011 nm
H. EXTRAP 1000 mb
I. 22 C/ 305 m
J. 24 C/ 305 m
K. / C/ NA
L. NA
M. NA
N. 1345 / 1
O. 0.02 / 3 nm
P. AF307 01BBA INVEST OB 11
MAX FL WIND 52 KT SW QUAD 18:55:10 Z
SLP EXTRAP FROM 1500 FT.

I've bolded the two key points. The first one deals with maximum flight level winds, at about 1000ft aloft. 52kt isn't too shabby and is still TS force when you reduce them to the surface. More importantly, that wind came just 11 n. mi. from the center -- a hallmark of a tropical cyclone.

The second one deals with the thermal structure. Recon found temperatures at low levels 2C warmer at the center than outside of it, suggesting a warm-core structure and potential subtropical/tropical system. Given the wind data, I think we'll see a tropical storm out of this.