000 WTPZ44 KNHC 100240 TCDEP4 TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-E DISCUSSION NUMBER 2 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP092009 800 PM PDT SUN AUG 09 2009 SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT THE OVERALL ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPRESSION HAS CHANGED LITTLE THIS EVENING. MOST OF THE CONVECTIVE BANDING SEEN EARLY TODAY HAS DISSIPATED...WHILE A SOMEWHAT SHAPELESS AREA OF CONVECTION HAS DEVELOPED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER. LATE AFTERNOON VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY AND MICROWAVE DATA SUGGEST THAT THE CENTER OF THE DEPRESSION IS A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH AND WEST THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED. THE SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE IS 285/8 KT. THE DEPRESSION IS CURRENTLY SOUTH OF A MID-LEVEL RIDGE THAT EXTENDS WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD FROM NORTHERN MEXICO INTO THE EASTERN PACIFIC. THE RIDGE IS FORECAST TO BUILD WESTWARD DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD WHICH SHOULD KEEP THE CYCLONE ON A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWESTWARD HEADING. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THIS MOTION...HOWEVER AT VARYING FORWARD SPEEDS. THE NHC TRACK IS CLOSE TO THE MODEL CONSENSUS THROUGH 72 HOURS...BUT IS A LITTLE SLOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY AT DAYS 4 AND 5. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES THAT THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING INTO AN AREA OF UPPER-LEVEL WESTERLY WINDS. THE SHIPS MODEL AND A UW-CIMSS SHEAR ANALYSIS CURRENTLY DIAGNOSE ABOUT 15 KT OF SHEAR OVER THE CYCLONE. THE DYNAMICAL MODELS PREDICT THAT MODERATE WEST TO WEST-NORTHWESTERLY UPPER-LEVEL WINDS CONTINUE ALONG THE PATH OF THE DEPRESSION DURING THE NEXT 2-3 DAYS. BECAUSE OF THIS...MOST OF THE INTENSITY GUIDANCE ONLY SHOWS MODEST STRENGTHENING AND SO DOES THE OFFICIAL FORECAST. BEYOND 72 HOURS...ALTHOUGH THE SHEAR IS FORECAST TO DECREASE...THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO BE MOVING OVER COOLER WATERS...WHICH SHOULD INDUCE WEAKENING. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 10/0300Z 14.8N 121.5W 30 KT 12HR VT 10/1200Z 15.0N 122.7W 35 KT 24HR VT 11/0000Z 15.4N 124.4W 40 KT 36HR VT 11/1200Z 15.8N 126.1W 40 KT 48HR VT 12/0000Z 16.2N 128.0W 45 KT 72HR VT 13/0000Z 16.9N 131.7W 50 KT 96HR VT 14/0000Z 17.0N 135.5W 45 KT 120HR VT 15/0000Z 17.0N 139.5W 40 KT $$ FORECASTER BROWN