ZCZC MIATCDEP3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE BLAS DISCUSSION NUMBER 19 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 8 PM PDT FRI JUN 26 1998 SATELLITE IMAGERY CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT THE DEEP CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH BLAS IS CONTRACTING AND CLOUD TOPS ARE WARMING. HOWEVER...THE LATEST OBJECTIVE T-NUMBERS VALUES ARE STILL AT 5.0. THUS...THE INITIAL INTENSITY REMAINS AT 90 KNOTS. THE SYSTEM REMAINS SYMMETRIC WITH A RATHER WELL-DEFINED EYE. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST CONTINUES THE WEAKENING TREND SHOWN IN PREVIOUS PACKAGES. THE INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE IS 280/10 KNOTS. A MID- TO UPPER-LEVEL RIDGE IS FORECAST TO PERSIST NORTH OF BLAS...KEEPING THE SYSTEM ON A GENERAL WEST TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TRACK. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. JARVINEN FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 27/0300Z 17.7N 114.4W 90 KTS 12HR VT 27/1200Z 18.0N 116.0W 85 KTS 24HR VT 28/0000Z 18.5N 118.1W 80 KTS 36HR VT 28/1200Z 19.0N 120.4W 60 KTS 48HR VT 29/0000Z 19.6N 122.7W 45 KTS 72HR VT 30/0000Z 21.2N 127.3W 30 KTS NNNN