Recon data from 0630Z and later clearly indicate Tropical Depression 1 is now a Tropical Storm and was officially upgraded as of 5 am ET June 26, 2010.

All models except the GFS have Alex on an intercept course with TX maybe the upper coast of MX in about 6 days. The GFDL has shifted to the upper TX coast and not FL in the new package.

Despite considerable shear near 22N latitude; Alex is expected to be escorted by an upper level ridge over the top of him which will negate the shear in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

We hope the folks over at NHC understand how important it is to get course trajectories as accurate as possible given the anxiety currently in the states of LA, MS, AL and FL. A FL landfall may have been a blessing for the oil spill; any turn to the right between now and landfall is just giong to be tough on all.