000 WTNT43 KNHC 111439 TCDAT3 TROPICAL STORM MICHAEL DISCUSSION NUMBER 34 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL132012 1100 AM AST TUE SEP 11 2012 MOST OF THE CONVECTION HAS VANISHED...AND MICHAEL CONSISTS OF A TIGHT SWIRL OF LOW CLOUDS. GIVEN THAT MICHAEL WAS A HURRICANE...AND WINDS TAKE TIME TO SPIN DOWN...IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS 40 KNOTS. IN FACT...THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A RECENT ASCAT PASS A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO. SINCE THE CYCLONE IS ALREADY OVER COOL WATERS AND EMBEDDED WITHIN STRONG SHEAR...ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED...AND MICHAEL IS FORECAST TO BECOME A REMNANT LOW LATER TODAY. IT SHOULD THEN BECOME ABSORBED BY A FRONT IN ABOUT 36 HOURS. THE INITIAL MOTION IS 020 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS. MICHAEL IS BEING STEERED BY THE SOUTHERLY FLOW BETWEEN A WEAK SUBTROPICAL HIGH TO THE EAST AND A STRONG TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. THIS WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED UNTIL THE SYSTEM BECOMES ABSORBED BY A FRONT. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 11/1500Z 39.2N 47.2W 40 KT 45 MPH 12H 12/0000Z 43.0N 46.0W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 24H 12/1200Z 48.0N 40.0W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 36H 13/0000Z...ABSORBED BY A FRONT $$ FORECASTER AVILA