000 WTPZ45 KNHC 062035 TCDEP5 TROPICAL DEPRESSION FIVE-E DISCUSSION NUMBER 5 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP052008 200 PM PDT SUN JUL 06 2008 THE CLOUD PATTERN ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEPRESSION REMAINS RAGGED- LOOKING AND LACKING IN BANDING FEATURES. DVORAK INTENSITY ESTIMATES REMAIN AT 30 KT AS DOES THE ADVISORY INTENSITY. STRONG EASTERLY SHEAR CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE SYSTEM AND I HAVE BACKED OFF FROM THE PREVIOUS INTENSITY FORECAST BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT DISORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM...THE SHEARING ENVIRONMENT...AND THE LATEST GFDL/HWRF FORECASTS THAT CALL FOR NO SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHENING. IT HAS BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE TO LOCATE THE CENTER EVEN WITH VISIBLE IMAGERY. MICROWAVE IMAGES HAVE NOT BEEN MUCH HELP EITHER. RECENT VISIBLE PICTURES SUGGEST THAT THE CENTER MAY BE SOMEWHAT TO THE EAST OF PREVIOUS ESTIMATES BUT THIS IS NOT YET CERTAIN. HOWEVER THE CENTER POSITION WAS PULLED BACK A LITTLE TO THE EAST ON THIS ADVISORY. INITIAL MOTION IS A VERY UNCERTAIN 315/7. THE MID-LEVEL RIDGE TO THE NORTH OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE IS QUITE WEAK AT THIS TIME. GLOBAL MODELS PREDICT THAT THE RIDGE WILL STRENGTHEN A LITTLE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THIS SHOULD CAUSE THE TROPICAL CYCLONE'S TRACK TO GRADUALLY BEND TO THE LEFT WITH TIME OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST TRACK IS ROUGHLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MODEL TRACKS THROUGH 72 HOURS AND ROUGHLY BETWEEN THE MEDIUM AND SHALLOW BAM GUIDANCE THEREAFTER. AS NOTED EARLIER...THE MAIN THREAT FROM THIS SYSTEM IS HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND THE ASSOCIATED FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES OVER THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OF MEXICO. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 06/2100Z 17.0N 102.8W 30 KT 12HR VT 07/0600Z 17.5N 103.9W 30 KT 24HR VT 07/1800Z 18.4N 104.8W 30 KT 36HR VT 08/0600Z 19.0N 105.7W 30 KT 48HR VT 08/1800Z 19.5N 106.5W 30 KT 72HR VT 09/1800Z 20.5N 109.0W 30 KT 96HR VT 10/1800Z 21.5N 112.0W 25 KT 120HR VT 11/1800Z 21.5N 115.5W 25 KT...REMNANT LOW $$ FORECASTER PASCH