000 WTPZ42 KNHC 202034 TCDEP2 TROPICAL STORM KAY DISCUSSION NUMBER 9 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP122016 300 PM MDT SAT AUG 20 2016 Convection associated with Kay has decreased in organization during the past several hours, with the main concentration remaining just south of the low-level center. This decrease might be due to an area of stratus clouds, indicative of stable air, entraining into the western portion of the circulation. Although the convection has diminished, the various satellite intensity estimates have changed little since the last advisory, and the initial intensity remains 45 kt. Kay has turned northwestward with the estimated motion now 320/5. The track guidance is in excellent agreement that a mid-level ridge to the north of Kay should steer the cyclone toward the northwest and west-northwest during the next 48-72 hours. After that time, a more westward motion is likely as Kay becomes a shallow low pressure area that is steered by the low-level easterlies. The consensus models have shifted a little southward since the previous forecast. Based on this, the new forecast track is also shifted a little southward and lies between the consensus models and the previous NHC track. On the forecast track, Kay will be moving over decreasing sea surface temperatures and reaching the 26C isotherm in about 48 hours. The intensity guidance is in good agreement on forecasting gradual weakening through the forecast period, with several of the global models showing Kay degenerating into a trough at around 120 hours. The new intensity forecast is similar to the previous one and calls for a slow weakening, with Fay becoming a depression in about 72 hours and a remnant low in about 96 hours. Overall, the NHC prediction is in best agreement with the intensity consensus IVCN. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 20/2100Z 20.3N 113.1W 45 KT 50 MPH 12H 21/0600Z 20.8N 113.9W 45 KT 50 MPH 24H 21/1800Z 21.3N 114.8W 40 KT 45 MPH 36H 22/0600Z 21.8N 116.0W 40 KT 45 MPH 48H 22/1800Z 22.3N 117.3W 35 KT 40 MPH 72H 23/1800Z 23.5N 120.0W 30 KT 35 MPH 96H 24/1800Z 23.5N 122.5W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 120H 25/1800Z 23.5N 125.5W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW $$ Forecaster Beven