000 WTPZ41 KNHC 290851 TCDEP1 TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE-E DISCUSSION NUMBER 2 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP012008 200 AM PDT THU MAY 29 2008 SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE-E IS GRADUALLY BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED...WITH INCREASED CONVECTIVE BANDING NEAR THE CENTER AND A VIGOROUS BAND WEST OF THE CENTRAL CONVECTION. ASCAT DATA SHOWED MAXIMUM WINDS OF 30 KT NEAR 03Z...AND THE POSSIBLE FORMATION OF AN INNER WIND CORE. BASED MAINLY ON THE ASCAT DATA...THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS INCREASED TO 30 KT...WHICH IS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE 35 KT ESTIMATES FROM TAFB AND SAB. THE CYCLONE APPEARS TO BE MOVING SLIGHTLY FASTER TOWARD THE NORTH...350/4. THE SYSTEM REMAINS LOCATED WITHIN A BROAD CYCLONIC GYRE IN THE LOW TO MID LEVELS...WITH A MID-LEVEL RIDGE TO THE NORTH OF THE DEPRESSION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE LARGE-SCALE MODELS FORECAST THIS GENERAL PATTERN TO PERSIST FOR 36-48 HR. THE TRACK GUIDANCE RESPONDS TO THIS PATTERN BY FORECAST AN INITIAL NORTHWARD MOTION THAT BECOMES NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD IN 12-24 HR AND MORE WESTWARD THEREAFTER. THE NEW FORECAST TRACK IS SHIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE PREVIOUS FORECAST BASED MAINLY ON THE INITIAL POSITION AND MOTION...AND IT IS A BIT FASTER THEN THE PREVIOUS TRACK. THE NEW FORECAST CALLS FOR THE CENTER TO MAKE LANDFALL IN WESTERN NICARAGUA IN 18-24 HR IN BEST AGREEMENT WITH THE GUNA CONSENSUS MODEL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE ORIENTATION OF THE COASTLINE RELATIVE TO THE FORECAST TRACK...EVEN MODEST TRACK ERRORS COULD RESULT IN LARGE ERRORS IN THE TIMING AND LOCATION OF LANDFALL. ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR STRENGTHENING...WITH THE ONLY OBVIOUS NEGATIVE FACTOR BEING LAND INTERACTION. THE INTENSITY FORECAST CALLS FOR GRADUAL STRENGTHENING UNTIL LANDFALL...FOLLOWED BY WEAKENING AND DISSIPATION OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF CENTRAL AMERICA. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CYCLONE COULD GET STRONGER THAN FORECAST IF IT REMAINS OVER WATER LONGER THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST. HOWEVER... UNLESS THE SYSTEM GETS SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN FORECAST...THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVY RAINS...WHICH COULD REACH 20 INCHES OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF CENTRAL AMERICA... ESPECIALLY IN COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 29/0900Z 10.9N 86.8W 30 KT 12HR VT 29/1800Z 11.8N 87.0W 35 KT 24HR VT 30/0600Z 13.3N 87.5W 35 KT...INLAND 36HR VT 30/1800Z 14.9N 88.3W 20 KT...INLAND DISSIPATING 48HR VT 31/0600Z...DISSIPATED $$ FORECASTER BEVEN