The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded tropical depression 06E to tropical storm Fernanda on 16 August 2011 at 0800 UTC after seeing data from a TRMM pass at that time. A rainfall analysis from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) rainfall data shows that Fernanda contains areas of heavy rainfall. Fernanda was located about 2378 km (~1478 miles) east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands with wind speeds of about 45 kts (~52 mph) and was moving toward the west at about 8 kts (~9.2 mph).

The NHC discussion says that computer guidance indicates considerably more intensification is possible with Fernanda in the next day or so