000 WTPZ43 KNHC 230244 TCDEP3 TROPICAL STORM GENEVIEVE DISCUSSION NUMBER 7 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP082008 800 PM PDT TUE JUL 22 2008 GENEVIEVE CONTINUES TO SLOWLY STRENGTHEN IN THE FACE OF MODERATE EASTERLY SHEAR. THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS RAISED TO 55 KT BASED ON UNANIMOUS SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE DVORAK SATELLITE CLASSIFICATIONS. MULTIPLE FACTORS COMPLICATE THE INTENSITY FORECAST. ON ONE HAND...VERTICAL SHEAR IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS AND ALL OF THE INTENSITY GUIDANCE SHOWS STRENGTHENING. HOWEVER...SATELLITE BASED SST ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT THE CYCLONE IS ABOUT TO MOVE OVER A COLD WAKE GENERATED BY FAUSTO. WHILE THE POCKET OF COOLER WATER IS NOT THAT LARGE...IT COULD SLOW OR EVEN STOP DEVELOPMENT IN THE SHORT-TERM. BEYOND 24 HOURS...GENEVIEVE SHOULD BE BACK OVER SUFFICIENTLY WARM WATERS WHERE IT WILL HAVE ABOUT A 48 HOUR WINDOW TO STRENGTHEN BEFORE SHEAR INCREASES AGAIN. IN LIGHT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD WAKE...THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS BELOW THE INTENSITY MODEL CONSENSUS EARLY IN THE FORECAST. GENEVIEVE CONTINUES WESTWARD AT ABOUT 10 KT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A MIDDLE TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER NORTHERN MEXICO. WHILE DYNAMICAL MODELS GENERALLY AGREE THAT THIS RIDGE WILL NOSE WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN PACIFIC...THEY DISAGREE ON THE STRENGTH OF THE RIDGE. ADDITIONALLY...THE VARIOUS MODELS DIFFER IN THEIR FORECASTS OF THE STRENGTH AND DEPTH OF THE CYCLONE. THOSE MODEL DEPICTING A WEAK SYSTEM MOVE IT SOUTHWESTWARD WHILE THOSE MODELS WHICH DEPICT A STRONG SYSTEM TURN THE CYCLONE WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OR NORTHWESTWARD. ALL THIS RESULTS IN A HUGE DIVERGENCE OF THE TRACK MODELS BEYOND A DAY OR SO. IN FACT...THE TRACK MODEL ENVELOPE SPANS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AT DAY 5. GIVEN THE EXTREME UNCERTAINTY...THE OFFICIAL FORECAST MAINTAINS A DUE WESTWARD MOTION THROUGH 5 DAYS. THIS RESULTS IN A SLIGHT NORTHWARD SHIFT OF THE NEW OFFICIAL TRACK FORECAST BUT IT STILL LIES SIGNIFICANTLY SOUTH OF THE DYNAMICAL MODEL CONSENSUS. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 23/0300Z 14.3N 108.2W 55 KT 12HR VT 23/1200Z 14.4N 109.7W 55 KT 24HR VT 24/0000Z 14.4N 111.3W 60 KT 36HR VT 24/1200Z 14.4N 112.8W 65 KT 48HR VT 25/0000Z 14.4N 114.2W 65 KT 72HR VT 26/0000Z 14.4N 117.2W 65 KT 96HR VT 27/0000Z 14.5N 120.0W 55 KT 120HR VT 28/0000Z 14.5N 123.5W 45 KT $$ FORECASTER RHOME