000 WTPZ44 KNHC 282032 TCDEP4 TROPICAL STORM ILEANA DISCUSSION NUMBER 5 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP092012 200 PM PDT TUE AUG 28 2012 THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CLOUD PATTERN IN CONVENTIONAL SATELLITE OR MICROWAVE DATA DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. THE OUTFLOW REMAINS ESTABLISHED AND THERE ARE CYCLONICALLY-CURVED BANDS WRAPPING AROUND AN AREA OF DEEP CONVECTION NEAR THE CENTER. T-NUMBERS FROM BOTH TAFB AND SAB REMAIN AT 3.0 ON THE DVORAK SCALE...INDICATING THAT THE WINDS ARE STILL 45 KNOTS. ILEANA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN WITHIN A LOW-SHEAR ENVIRONMENT BUT WILL BEGIN TO REACH LOWER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN ABOUT 3 DAYS. GIVEN THESE CONDITIONS...THE NHC FORECAST CALLS FOR ILEANA TO BECOME A HURRICANE IN A DAY OR SO AND THEN WEAKEN GRADUALLY. THE BEST ESTIMATE OF THE INITIAL MOTION IS 295 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER WESTERN MEXICO. ILEANA COULD TURN A LITTLE MORE TO THE NORTHWEST AS A MID-LEVEL TROUGH APPROACHES THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. HOWEVER...SINCE ILEANA IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN BY THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD AND BECOME A SHALLOW SYSTEM...IT COULD TURN MORE TO THE WEST AS IT BECOMES STEERED BY THE LOW-LEVEL FLOW. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS CLOSE TO THE CONSENSUS AND LIES IN BETWEEN THE ECMWF WHICH IS NORTH OF THE GUIDANCE ENVELOPE AND THE GFS/HWRF PAIR TO THE SOUTH. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 28/2100Z 16.3N 110.7W 45 KT 50 MPH 12H 29/0600Z 16.9N 111.9W 50 KT 60 MPH 24H 29/1800Z 18.0N 113.2W 55 KT 65 MPH 36H 30/0600Z 18.5N 114.0W 65 KT 75 MPH 48H 30/1800Z 19.5N 115.0W 65 KT 75 MPH 72H 31/1800Z 20.5N 117.0W 55 KT 65 MPH 96H 01/1800Z 21.5N 120.0W 45 KT 50 MPH 120H 02/1800Z 22.0N 124.0W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW $$ FORECASTER AVILA