ZCZC MIATCDEP4 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE LESTER DISCUSSION NUMBER 30 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 AM PDT THU OCT 22 1998 THERE CONTINUES TO BE LITTLE NET MOTION...WITH THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE JUST MEANDERING ABOUT. ALTHOUGH STEERING CURRENTS HAVE COLLAPSED AT THIS TIME...NUMERICAL GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT A MID- TROPOSPHERIC RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF LESTER. THUS A SLOW...GENERALLY WESTWARD...MOVEMENT IS FORECAST TO BEGIN IN 12 TO 24 HOURS AND CONTINUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. THE HURRICANE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT A WELL-DEFINED EYE EMBEDDED IN AN AREA OF CLOUD TOPS OF -60 TO -70 DEGREES CELSIUS. DVORAK CLASSIFICATIONS FROM THE TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER GIVE AN ESTIMATED CURRENT INTENSITY CLOSE TO 100 KNOTS. NOT MUCH CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS CALLED FOR UNTIL LATE IN THE PERIOD WHEN GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST... MAINLY BASED ON CLIMATOLOGY. PASCH FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 22/0900Z 16.8N 108.7W 100 KTS 12HR VT 22/1800Z 16.8N 108.7W 100 KTS 24HR VT 23/0600Z 16.6N 109.5W 100 KTS 36HR VT 23/1800Z 16.5N 110.5W 100 KTS 48HR VT 24/0600Z 16.5N 111.5W 90 KTS 72HR VT 25/0600Z 16.5N 113.5W 75 KTS NNNN