000 WTPZ44 KNHC 210902 TCDEP4 TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-E DISCUSSION NUMBER 1 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP092011 200 AM PDT WED SEP 21 2011 RADAR DATA FROM MEXICO AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF THE GULF OF TEHUANTEPEC HAS ACQUIRED ENOUGH ORGANIZATION TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A TROPICAL DEPRESSION. DVORAK INTENSITY ESTIMATES FROM BOTH TAFB AND SAB SUPPORT AN INITIAL INTENSITY OF 30 KT. THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO MOVE OVER WARM WATER AND REMAIN IN A LOW SHEAR ENVIRONMENT DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. STEADY INTENSIFICATION IS THEREFORE ANTICIPATED AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST SHOWS THE DEPRESSION BECOMING A HURRICANE IN ABOUT 48 HOURS. THE NHC INTENSITY FORECAST IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE SHIPS MODEL. THE INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE IS 285/4. THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO MOVE WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TO THE SOUTH OF A NARROW MID- TO UPPER-LEVEL RIDGE THAT EXTENDS FROM MEXICO WESTWARD OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC. THE RIDGE IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WHICH SHOULD CAUSE THE FORWARD SPEED OF THE CYCLONE TO INCREASE. THE TRACK GUIDANCE IS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THIS SCENARIO... HOWEVER THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN HOW CLOSE THE DEPRESSION COMES TO THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO. BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF SHOW A NORTHWESTWARD MOTION DURING THE FIRST 12-24 HOURS...AND THESE MODELS ARE ALONG THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE GUIDANCE ENVELOPE. MEANWHILE...THE GFDL...HWRF...AND NOGAPS MODELS ARE ALONG THE SOUTHERN EDGE. FOR NOW...THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS BETWEEN THESE EXTREMES AND IS NEAR THE MODEL CONSENSUS. INTERESTS ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE DISTURBANCE. ANY DEVIATION TO THE NORTH OF THE FORECAST TRACK COULD REQUIRE WATCHES OR WARNINGS FOR A PORTION OF THE COAST OF MEXICO. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 21/0900Z 13.4N 96.5W 30 KT 35 MPH 12H 21/1800Z 13.6N 97.1W 40 KT 45 MPH 24H 22/0600Z 14.1N 98.3W 45 KT 50 MPH 36H 22/1800Z 14.6N 99.6W 55 KT 65 MPH 48H 23/0600Z 15.1N 101.0W 65 KT 75 MPH 72H 24/0600Z 16.2N 104.2W 75 KT 85 MPH 96H 25/0600Z 17.5N 107.5W 85 KT 100 MPH 120H 26/0600Z 18.5N 111.0W 85 KT 100 MPH $$ FORECASTER BROWN