ZCZC MIATCDEP5 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE DARBY DISCUSSION NUMBER 20 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 8 PM PDT MON JUL 27 1998 DARBY CONSISTS OF A LARGE EYE SURROUNDED BY AN EYEWALL AND NO BANDING FEATURES. T-NUMBERS ARE ALREADY DECREASING BUT DARBY REMAINS AS 100-KNOT HURRICANE AS INDICATED BY CI NUMBERS. IT APPEARS THAT THE WEAKENING PROCESS SHOULD BEGIN SOON. NOTHING HAS CHANGED...THE SAME STEERING PATTERN...AND THE SAME MOTION...275/13. MOST OF THE TRACK MODELS TURN DARBY MORE TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST BEYOND 48 HOURS AND SO DOES THE OFFICIAL FORECAST. DARBY IS EXPECTED TO CROSS 140W AND MOVE INTO THE HONOLULU AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY IN A DAY OR SO. AVILA FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 28/0300Z 17.1N 133.7W 100 KTS 12HR VT 28/1200Z 17.2N 135.8W 95 KTS 24HR VT 29/0000Z 17.7N 138.7W 90 KTS 36HR VT 29/1200Z 18.5N 141.5W 80 KTS 48HR VT 30/0000Z 19.5N 144.5W 70 KTS 72HR VT 31/0000Z 21.5N 149.5W 55 KTS NNNN