Tropical Storm NICHOLAS
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TROPICAL STORM NICHOLAS DISCUSSION NUMBER 29
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 PM EDT MON OCT 20 2003
NICHOLAS IS STILL PRODUCING INTERMITTENT CONVECTION...PROBABLY
ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CIRCULATION AT TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH. WESTERLY
SHEAR CONTINUES...AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO DIMINISH...SO CONTINUED
WEAKENING IS FORECAST UNTIL THE SYSTEM DISSIPATES OR BECOMES
ABSORBED INTO A FRONTAL ZONE. ALTHOUGH NOT REFLECTED IN THE
OFFICIAL FORECAST...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BAROCLINIC FORCING COULD
LEAD TO SOME NON-TROPICAL REGENERATION PRIOR TO ABSORPTION LATE IN
THE FORECAST PERIOD.
THE INITIAL MOTION IS 290/6. NICHOLAS IS CURRENTLY MOVING WITH THE
LOW-LEVEL FLOW. MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT ON A SLOW
NORTHWESTERLY TRACK AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF A LOW- TO MID-LEVEL
HIGH OVER THE SUBTROPICAL ATLANTIC...WITH A GRADUAL TURN TO THE
NORTH IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT MAJOR TROUGH FORECAST TO MOVE OFF
NORTH AMERICA INTO THE ATLANTIC IN ABOUT 48-60 HOURS. THE OFFICIAL
FORECAST IS JUST SLIGHTLY LEFT OF THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY AND IS NEAR
THE GFS/GFDL/UKMET/NOGAPS CONSENSUS.
FORECASTER FRANKLIN
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INITIAL 20/2100Z 18.2N 49.3W 35 KT
12HR VT 21/0600Z 18.5N 50.2W 35 KT
24HR VT 21/1800Z 19.0N 51.1W 30 KT
36HR VT 22/0600Z 19.9N 52.1W 25 KT...DISSIPATING
48HR VT 22/1800Z 21.0N 53.0W 25 KT...REMNANT LOW
72HR VT 23/1800Z 24.0N 54.0W 25 KT...REMNANT LOW
96HR VT 24/1800Z 28.0N 54.0W 25 KT...REMNANT LOW
120HR VT 25/1800Z...DISSIPATED/ABSORBED INTO FRONTAL ZONE
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