784 WTPZ42 KNHC 071447 TCDEP2 Hurricane John Discussion Number 8 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP122018 900 AM MDT Tue Aug 07 2018 Visible and infrared satellite images have continued to show the ragged eye of John this morning, but the surrounding convective cloud tops have become more symmetric and cooled since the previous advisory. The latest Dvorak satellite intensity estimates from TAFB and SAB were T5.0/90 kt, which support increasing the initial wind speed to that value. John has about another 24 hours over warm water in which to intensify, and the NHC intensity forecast calls for John to attain major hurricane strength later today or tonight. After that time, decreasing SSTs and a more stable environment should lead to steady or rapid weakening, and John is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone by day 4. The NHC intensity forecast is near the SHIPS and HCCA models for the first 12 to 24 hours, and then is between the aforementioned models and the intensity consensus thereafter. John is moving northwestward or 320/8 kt. The track guidance is in good agreement on taking the hurricane northwestward around the western portion of a mid-level ridge centered over northern Mexico. Once John weakens and becomes a vertically shallow system it should turn westward in the low-level flow. The NHC track forecast is near the middle of the tightly clustered guidance envelope. The dangerous core of John is forecast to remain well offshore of the Baja California Peninsula. However, an eastward shift of the forecast track or an unexpected increase in the size of the outer wind field of the hurricane could bring tropical-storm-force winds to portions of the west coast of the peninsula. Therefore, interests in the southern portion of the Baja California Peninsula should monitor the progress of this hurricane. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 07/1500Z 17.9N 109.8W 90 KT 105 MPH 12H 08/0000Z 18.9N 110.7W 100 KT 115 MPH 24H 08/1200Z 20.5N 112.2W 105 KT 120 MPH 36H 09/0000Z 22.0N 114.0W 90 KT 105 MPH 48H 09/1200Z 23.5N 116.1W 80 KT 90 MPH 72H 10/1200Z 26.2N 120.2W 50 KT 60 MPH 96H 11/1200Z 27.0N 123.8W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROPICAL 120H 12/1200Z 27.0N 126.8W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW $$ Forecaster Brown