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Hurricane Jose Discussion Number  10
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL122017
Issued by the NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
500 PM AST Thu Sep 07 2017

Jose has continued to develop a well-defined eye on satellite
imagery this afternoon, with the eye now established in the center
of a ring of strong convection. 18 UTC Dvorak fixes from TAFB and
SAB came in at T5.5, which suggests 100 knot intensity. However,
given the ongoing improvements in satellite presentation and CIMSS
ADT numbers which have since climbed higher, the initial intensity
for this advisory is set at 105 knots. This makes Jose a Category 3
hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is the
third major hurricane in the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season
(Harvey, Irma). It also means we have two major hurricanes
simultaneously in the Atlantic basin, which is not too common --
especially in such close proximity. The last time this happened was
in 2010 when Igor and Julia were both major hurricanes on September
15-16, and then Igor and Karl were both major hurricanes briefly on
September 17.

In the near-term, most factors appear aligned for continued
intensification. Outflow remains well-established in all quadrants,
and Jose has thus far not felt negative impacts from the dry air
situated just to its west and northwest. For this reason, we are
taking the intensity up to 120 knots at the 24 hour forecast point.
After that, a gradual decrease in intensity is shown, in line with
most intensity guidance. However, the intensity forecast generally
lies above most of the guidance in deference to the ongoing rapid
intensification trend. Global models do show that some of the dry
air to the west of Jose may wrap into the circulation in about
24-36 hours. That may be a contributing factor to the decrease in
intensity, as well as some increasing shear at the base of an upper
level low in the central Atlantic and perhaps the periphery of
Irma's upper level outflow. The smaller size of Jose may make it a
little more vulnerable to effects of dry air and shear.

The initial motion remains at 285/16kt, and Jose will continue to
be steered by a well established subtropical ridge. It should not
reach the ridge axis until about 36-48 hours, at which point the
ridge begins to erode a bit and Jose may turn a bit more toward the
northwest and eventually the north. The forecast track remains very
similar to the previous official forecast through 48 hours --
roughly between the operational GFS and ECMWF and close to the
multi-model consensus. After that time, the steering flow becomes
weaker and the forward motion should slow down. Models begin to
diverge more significantly at 96hr and especially 120hr. The
forecast at these time ranges lies closer to the multi-model
consensus and the operational ECMWF than models that show a quicker
exit to the east.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  07/2100Z 15.5N  52.4W  105 KT 120 MPH
 12H  08/0600Z 16.0N  54.8W  115 KT 130 MPH
 24H  08/1800Z 16.6N  57.6W  120 KT 140 MPH
 36H  09/0600Z 17.3N  59.8W  110 KT 125 MPH
 48H  09/1800Z 18.4N  61.7W  105 KT 120 MPH
 72H  10/1800Z 21.9N  65.5W   95 KT 110 MPH
 96H  11/1800Z 25.5N  67.9W   80 KT  90 MPH
120H  12/1800Z 27.3N  67.2W   75 KT  85 MPH

$$
Forecaster Lamers/Carbin

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