ZCZC MIATCDEP3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE BLAS DISCUSSION NUMBER 23 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 8 PM PDT SAT JUN 27 1998 DEEP CONVECTION CONTINUES TO DECREASE NEAR THE CENTER AND IS CORROBORATED BY DECREASING T-NUMBERS. CURRENT INTENSITY IS 65 KNOTS. THE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO DISSIPATE NEAR THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. AN EASTERLY STEERING CURRENT CONTINUES TO CARRY BLAS WESTWARD...NEAR 12 KNOTS. TRACK PREDICTION MODELS SHOW SOME SPREAD...WITH THE DEEPER-LAYER STEERING MODELS SHOWING A MORE NORTHWESTWARD MOVEMENT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE PERIOD. NONETHELESS...A LOW- TO MID- LEVEL RIDGE SHOULD REMAIN ENTRENCHED TO THE NORTH OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS DUE WEST AND IN LINE WITH THE LOWER-LEVEL STEERING. JARVINEN FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 28/0300Z 17.8N 119.4W 65 KTS 12HR VT 28/1200Z 17.8N 121.4W 60 KTS 24HR VT 29/0000Z 17.8N 123.9W 50 KTS 36HR VT 29/1200Z 17.8N 126.4W 40 KTS 48HR VT 30/0000Z 17.8N 128.9W 30 KTS 72HR VT 01/0000Z 17.8N 133.9W 20 KTS...DISSIPATING NNNN