ZCZC MIATCDAT4 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM TROPICAL STORM NICOLE DISCUSSION NUMBER 20 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 4 PM EST SUN NOV 29 1998 AN EYE LIKE FEATURE HAS APPEARED IN THE VISIBLE AND INFRARED PICTURES DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS. HOWEVER...AT THE SAME TIME THE CLOUD TOPS HAVE BEEN WARMING AROUND THIS EYE LIKE FEATURE. DVORAK INTENSITY ESTIMATES ARE STILL AT 3.0 OR 45 KNOTS. BUT AN EYE FEATURE SUGGESTS SOME STRENGTENING AND INITIAL INTENSITY IS SET AT 50 KNOTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS STILL FORECAST. SINCE THE SYSTEM HAS GAINED FORWARD SPEED IT SHOULD MOVE OVER COOLER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN ABOUT A DAY AND BECOME EXTRATROPICAL. NICOLE IS NOW ACCELERATING TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 18 KTS. TRACK MODEL GUIDANCE HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM PREVIOUS TWO PACKAGES AND CONTINUES TO SHOW A LARGE SPREAD. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS TO THE LEFT OF THE PREVIOUS OFFICIAL TRACK AND MOVES THE SYSTEM MUCH FASTER. JARVINEN FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 29/2100Z 32.8N 42.5W 50 KTS 12HR VT 30/0600Z 34.5N 40.0W 50 KTS 24HR VT 30/1800Z 36.6N 36.4W 40 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL 36HR VT 01/0600Z 38.6N 32.1W 35 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL 48HR VT 01/1800Z 40.4N 27.4W 35 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL 72HR VT 02/1800Z 44.0N 17.5W 35 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL NNNN