ZCZC MIATCDEP4 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE HOWARD DISCUSSION NUMBER 13 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 8 PM PDT SUN AUG 23 1998 HOWARD HAS WEAKENED SOMEWHAT DURING THE PAST 6 HOURS BUT STILL REMAINS A STRONG HURRICANE. T-NUMBERS ARE 5.0..5.5..6.0 ON THE DVORAK SCALE. THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS SET AT 110 KTS WITH A GRADUAL WEAKENING TREND FORECAST OUT TO 72 HOURS. INITIAL MOTION IS 290/11. MOST OF THE TRACK MODELS INDICATE THAT THIS GENERAL MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH 72 HOURS. THIS IS EXPECTED SINCE THE RIDGE TO THE NORTH IS FORECAST TO PERSIST. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF THE PREVIOUS ONE. JARVINEN FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 24/0300Z 15.7N 113.2W 110 KTS 12HR VT 24/1200Z 16.2N 114.8W 105 KTS 24HR VT 25/0000Z 16.9N 117.0W 100 KTS 36HR VT 25/1200Z 17.5N 119.1W 95 KTS 48HR VT 26/0000Z 18.0N 121.4W 90 KTS 72HR VT 27/0000Z 18.3N 125.9W 80 KTS NNNN