Tropical Storm KRISTY
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TROPICAL STORM KRISTY DISCUSSION NUMBER 5
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP112012
800 AM PDT THU SEP 13 2012
THE CLOUD PATTERN HAS NOT BECOME ANY BETTER ORGANIZED DURING THE
PAST SEVERAL HOURS. IN FACT...IT COULD HAVE DETERIORATED A LITTLE
BIT...AND MICROWAVE DATA SHOW THAT THE CENTER IS NOW LOCATED ON THE
NORTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE CONVECTION DUE TO NORTHWESTERLY SHEAR.
SATELLITE ESTIMATES STILL SUPPORT AN INITIAL INTENSITY OF 45 KNOTS.
ALTHOUGH THE SHEAR IS FORECAST TO DECREASE...KRISTY IS HEADING
TOWARD COOL WATERS AND APPROACHING A STABLE ENVIRONMENT. ON THIS
BASIS...THE NHC FORECAST ONLY SHOWS A SLIGHT STRENGTHENING DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS...FOLLOWED BY A GRADUAL WEAKENING.
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE INITIAL MOTION...AND KRISTY IS
MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST OR 295 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. THERE
IS ENOUGH RIDGING TO THE NORTH OF THE CYCLONE TO MAINTAIN A GENERAL
WEST-NORTHWEST TRACK FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 DAYS. AFTER THAT
TIME...THE STEERING CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED TO COLLAPSE...AND KRISTY
WILL PROBABLY DRIFT NORTHWARD AS A SHALLOW REMNANT LOW. THE
CONFIDENCE IN THE TRACK FORECAST IS HIGH SINCE MOST OF
GUIDANCE...ESPECIALLY THE GFS AND THE ECMWF...AGREE ON A
WEST-NORTHWEST SOLUTION. IN FACT...THIS PATH IS VERY CLOSE TO
CLIMATOLOGY.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 13/1500Z 18.9N 109.3W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 14/0000Z 19.5N 110.7W 50 KT 60 MPH
24H 14/1200Z 20.2N 112.2W 45 KT 50 MPH
36H 15/0000Z 21.0N 114.0W 45 KT 50 MPH
48H 15/1200Z 22.5N 116.0W 40 KT 45 MPH
72H 16/1200Z 24.0N 119.0W 30 KT 35 MPH
96H 17/1200Z 25.0N 121.0W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
120H 18/1200Z 26.0N 121.0W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
$$
FORECASTER AVILA
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