000 WTPZ44 KNHC 211438 TCDEP4 TROPICAL STORM HILARY DISCUSSION NUMBER 2 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP092011 800 AM PDT WED SEP 21 2011 SATELLITE IMAGES...RADAR DATA FROM PUERTO ANGEL MEXICO...AND THE LATEST MICROWAVE OVERPASSES INDICATE THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE CYCLONE HAS INCREASED IN ORGANIZATION SINCE THE LAST ADVISORY. A LARGE CURVED BAND EXTENDS ACROSS THE WESTERN SEMICIRCLE OF THE CYCLONE AND A LESS-DEFINED BAND EXISTS TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER. THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS INCREASED TO 35 KT...IN AGREEMENT WITH THE DVORAK CLASSIFICATION FROM TAFB AND THE UW-CIMSS ADT ESTIMATES. THEREFORE...THE SYSTEM IS NOW TROPICAL STORM HILARY. STEADY STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS HILARY REMAINS IN A LOW WIND SHEAR ENVIRONMENT AND OVER WATERS OF 28-29C. THE NHC FORECAST CALLS FOR HILARY TO REACH HURRICANE STATUS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS WITH ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING THEREAFTER. THIS FORECAST IS CLOSE TO THE INTENSITY MODEL CONSENSUS...WHICH IS A BLEND OF THE AGGRESSIVE HWRF AND GFDL MODELS AND THE LESS ENTHUSIASTIC LGEM AND SHIPS MODELS. HILARY IS MOVING SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD...WITH THE LATEST INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE OF 290/5. THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN WEAK STEERING FOR ABOUT ANOTHER DAY...SO A CONTINUED SLOW WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS FORECAST DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. AFTER THAT...GLOBAL MODELS SHOW MID-LEVEL RIDGING BUILDING TO THE NORTH OF HILARY WHICH SHOULD CAUSE IT TO ACCELERATE SOME AND REMAIN ON A WEST-NORTHWESTWARD COURSE. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS NUDGED A LITTLE TO THE NORTH OF THE PREVIOUS ONE AND IS SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE MULTI-MODEL CONSENSUS...GIVEN THE UNREALISTIC-LOOKING NOGAPS SOLUTION. INTERESTS ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF HILARY. ANY DEVIATION OF THE TRACK TO THE NORTH OF THE CURRENT FORECAST COULD REQUIRE WATCHES OR WARNINGS FOR A PORTION OF THE COAST OF MEXICO. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 21/1500Z 13.6N 96.8W 35 KT 40 MPH 12H 22/0000Z 13.9N 97.5W 40 KT 45 MPH 24H 22/1200Z 14.5N 98.8W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 23/0000Z 15.1N 100.2W 60 KT 70 MPH 48H 23/1200Z 15.7N 101.9W 65 KT 75 MPH 72H 24/1200Z 16.8N 105.5W 75 KT 85 MPH 96H 25/1200Z 18.0N 108.5W 85 KT 100 MPH 120H 26/1200Z 19.0N 112.0W 85 KT 100 MPH $$ FORECASTER CANGIALOSI