000 WTNT43 KNHC 172040 TCDAT3 Tropical Storm Henri Discussion Number 8 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL082021 500 PM AST Tue Aug 17 2021 Henri appears to be gaining strength. Satellite images show banding features becoming increasingly curved, especially on the east side of the system, and an eye feature has been occasionally seen in radar images from Bermuda. The upper-level outflow is also well established to the north and east of the center. The center itself is estimated to be located near the western edge of the convection, but it is possible that a new center is forming farther east. The initial intensity is raised to 55 kt following the Dvorak classification from TAFB. The initial wind radii has been expanded outward based on an earlier ASCAT pass. The tropical storm appears to have slowed down, and the latest initial motion estimate is 255/2 kt. A subtropical ridge over the western Atlantic is building eastward to the north of Henri, and this feature should steer the storm westward at a slightly faster pace during the next two to three days. After that time, the ridge is expected to weaken and shift farther east as a cut off low or negatively-tilted trough develops over the northeast U.S. This change in the steering pattern should cause Henri to turn northeastward between Bermuda and the east coast of the U.S in the 72-120 h period. There is a fair amount of spread in exactly when and where Henri makes this turn and the GFS and EC ensembles have some members not far offshore of New England and Atlantic Canada. Overall, the guidance has shifted westward again this cycle, and the NHC track forecast has been adjusted accordingly from days 3 to 5. The northwesterly shear currently affecting Henri is subsiding, which should allow the storm to gain a little more strength tonight. However, a round of moderate northerly shear is expected to setup over Henri on Wednesday and Thursday and that will likely temporarily end the opportunity for strengthening. Although this shear would typically cause some weakening, the combination of warm SSTs and increasing mid-level moisture could offset the negative influences of the shear. By Friday and over the weekend, the shear is expected to lessen again and since the other environmental factors are predicted to remain favorable for the storm, strengthening is shown from days 3-5. This forecast is above the previous one, and lies fairly close to the middle of the guidance envelope. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 17/2100Z 30.4N 64.2W 55 KT 65 MPH 12H 18/0600Z 30.3N 65.5W 60 KT 70 MPH 24H 18/1800Z 30.2N 67.0W 60 KT 70 MPH 36H 19/0600Z 30.2N 68.6W 60 KT 70 MPH 48H 19/1800Z 30.3N 70.0W 60 KT 70 MPH 60H 20/0600Z 31.0N 71.1W 60 KT 70 MPH 72H 20/1800Z 32.0N 71.5W 65 KT 75 MPH 96H 21/1800Z 35.5N 69.6W 70 KT 80 MPH 120H 22/1800Z 39.1N 65.2W 70 KT 80 MPH $$ Forecaster Cangialosi