038 WTPZ42 KNHC 062048 TCDEP2 Hurricane John Discussion Number 5 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP122018 300 PM MDT Mon Aug 06 2018 John has continued to intensify since the previous advisory. Visible satellite images continue to indicate an increase in banding and very recent pictures show the formation of a banding eye. As a result, the initial intensity is increased to 65 kt, which is based on a TAFB Dvorak T-number of 4.0 and UW/CIMSS objective Dvorak estimates that are close to 65 kt. John becomes the fifth hurricane of the 2018 eastern North Pacific hurricane season. John is forecast to remain within a very favorable environment for strengthening during the next day or so. Although some of the intensity guidance is not quite as aggressive as this morning, the various rapid intensification indices still show a high likelihood of rapid strengthening during the next 24 hours. The NHC forecast once again calls for rapid intensification and brings John to major hurricane strength within 36 h. The updated NHC intensity forecast is near the upper-end of the guidance in best agreement with the latest SHIPS, HCCA, and FSSE models. After 48 h, John will be moving over much cooler waters and into a less conducive thermodynamic environment. This should result in rapid weakening, and John is forecast to become a remnant low by day 5. John is moving northwestward at about 7 kt. The hurricane is forecast to move northwestward around the western periphery of a mid-level ridge over northern Mexico during the next few days. Once the system weakens and becomes a more shallow cyclone late in the forecast period, it should turn westward in the low-level flow. The overall track envelope has shifted eastward this cycle, with the GFS and HWRF along the eastern edge of the track guidance envelope while the ECMWF and UKMET are along the western side. The new NHC forecast has been adjusted eastward and lies between the ECMWF and the various consensus aids. Due to the eastward shift in the forecast track and the predicted increase in the size of John, interests in the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula should monitor the progress of this system. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 06/2100Z 16.0N 108.0W 65 KT 75 MPH 12H 07/0600Z 16.8N 108.7W 80 KT 90 MPH 24H 07/1800Z 18.1N 109.9W 95 KT 110 MPH 36H 08/0600Z 19.6N 111.3W 110 KT 125 MPH 48H 08/1800Z 21.0N 112.8W 105 KT 120 MPH 72H 09/1800Z 24.3N 117.0W 70 KT 80 MPH 96H 10/1800Z 26.6N 121.2W 45 KT 50 MPH 120H 11/1800Z 27.2N 124.8W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW $$ Forecaster Brown