ZCZC MIATCDAT3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE GABRIELLE DISCUSSION NUMBER 23 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 5 AM EDT MON SEP 17 2001 THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO HAVE A NOT VERY TROPICAL-LOOKING APPEARANCE ON SATELLITE IMAGES. DEEP CONVECTION HAS DECREASED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS...AND THERE IS A DRY SLOT WRAPPING AROUND THE SOUTHERN SEMICIRCLE OF THE CIRCULATION. THIS IS PRODUCING A COMMA-CLOUD SIGNATURE THAT IS MORE TYPICAL OF A SUBTROPICAL SYSTEM. HOWEVER...THE CYCLONE MAY STILL HAVE STRONG WINDS NEAR THE CENTER...AS INDICATED BY AIRCRAFT DATA YESTERDAY. ANOTHER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE GABRIELLE AROUND 12Z. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST CALLS FOR FELIX TO LOSE WHATEVER TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS IT HAS BY 24 HOURS. THE FORWARD MOTION HAS ACCELERATED SUBSTANTIALLY AND IS NOW NEAR 20 KNOTS...REQUIRING AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE SPEED IN THE TRACK FORECAST. GABRIELLE SHOULD REMAIN EMBEDDED IN THE MIDLATITUDE WESTERLIES. THE CURRENT NHC FORECAST IS FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE LATEST AVN GUIDANCE...WHICH IS SOUTH OF MOST OF THE OTHER MODEL TRACKS. THE CYCLONE SHOULD BE AT ITS CLOSEST POINT OF APPROACH...TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST...OF BERMUDA LATER THIS MORNING. FORECASTER PASCH FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 17/0900Z 34.6N 67.2W 65 KTS 12HR VT 17/1800Z 35.7N 64.2W 65 KTS 24HR VT 18/0600Z 37.5N 60.5W 60 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL 36HR VT 18/1800Z 39.5N 57.5W 60 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL 48HR VT 19/0600Z 41.5N 54.5W 60 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL 72HR VT 20/0600Z 45.0N 48.9W 50 KTS...EXTRATROPICAL NNNN