000 WTPZ42 KNHC 272040 TCDEP2 Tropical Storm Frank Discussion Number 7 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP072022 300 PM MDT Wed Jul 27 2022 While Frank continues to feel the effects of northeasterly vertical wind shear, the shear seem to have diminished a little and the convection has become a little more concentrated just southwest of the low-level center. The various subjective and objective satellite intensity estimates are in the 35-45 kt range and have nudged a little upward since the last advisory. Thus, the initial intensity is increased to 40 kt in best agreement with the CIMSS satellite consensus estimate. The global models suggest that the current shear should ease over the next 12-18 h and allow Frank to gradually strengthen. Between 18-72 h, the shear is forecast to become light while the cyclone is over 28-29C sea surface temperatures, and this environment could allow for steady, and possibly rapid, intensification. The intensity guidance now shows more strengthening than the runs 6 h ago, and based on this the first 96 h of the intensity forecast have been revised upward. It should be noted that the new forecast peak intensity of 85 kt could be conservative, as the SHIPS, HFIP Corrected Consensus, HMON, and COAMPS-TC models all forecast a higher peak intensity. After 72 h, the cyclone should move over cooler waters, and this should cause a steady weakening. Frank is now moving westward with an initial motion of 280/9. A subtropical ridge to the north of the cyclone should continue to steer Frank generally westward for the next 24-36 h, followed by a west-northwestward motion. After 72 h, the cyclone is expected to moved more northwestward toward a break in the ridge caused by by a mid- to upper-level trough developing over the Pacific west of California. The new official forecast track is similar to the previous track through 60 h, and then is again nudged a little to the north of the previous forecast. The new forecast is again close to or a little south of the various consensus models. It should be noted that Frank and Tropical Storm Georgette are likely to come close enough to one another to interact. The global models still suggest that Frank will be the larger and dominant system during this interaction, and that Georgette will have only minor impacts on the track and intensity of Frank. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 27/2100Z 12.5N 106.8W 40 KT 45 MPH 12H 28/0600Z 12.7N 108.3W 45 KT 50 MPH 24H 28/1800Z 13.1N 110.3W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 29/0600Z 13.7N 112.1W 60 KT 70 MPH 48H 29/1800Z 14.6N 113.8W 70 KT 80 MPH 60H 30/0600Z 15.5N 115.6W 80 KT 90 MPH 72H 30/1800Z 16.6N 117.2W 85 KT 100 MPH 96H 31/1800Z 19.0N 120.5W 75 KT 85 MPH 120H 01/1800Z 21.0N 123.5W 55 KT 65 MPH $$ Forecaster Beven