ZCZC MIATCDEP4 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM HURRICANE HOWARD DISCUSSION NUMBER 14 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 AM PDT MON AUG 24 1998 SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW THAT HOWARD HAS MADE A BIT OF A COMEBACK THIS MORNING. THE SYSTEM HAS REGAINED SOME OF ITS SYMMETRY AS THE CONVECTIVE COVERAGE OVER THE NORTHERN SEMICIRCLE...WHICH HAD ERODED EARLIER...HAS EXPANDED. MEANWHILE...THE AREA OF DEEP CONVECTION SOUTH OF THE CENTER HAS INCREASED IN INTENSITY. THE INITIAL INTENSITY WILL MAINTAINED AT 110 KNOTS FOR THIS ADVISORY. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST AS THE SYSTEM ENCOUNTERS PROGRESSIVELY COOLER WATERS...NEAR 24/25 DEG C BY 72 HOURS. THE INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE IS 285/11 KNOTS. THE DEEP-LAYER MEAN RIDGE NORTH OF HOWARD SHOULD ALLOW A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD...AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST TRACK REFLECTS THIS. THE TRACK IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY. GUINEY FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 24/0900Z 16.0N 114.3W 110 KTS 12HR VT 24/1800Z 16.5N 115.9W 100 KTS 24HR VT 25/0600Z 17.3N 117.9W 95 KTS 36HR VT 25/1800Z 18.2N 120.2W 85 KTS 48HR VT 26/0600Z 19.0N 122.5W 75 KTS 72HR VT 27/0600Z 19.5N 127.5W 65 KTS NNNN