000 WTPZ43 KNHC 212047 TCDEP3 TROPICAL STORM GENEVIEVE DISCUSSION NUMBER 2 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP082008 200 PM PDT MON JUL 21 2008 SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE CENTER REMAINS ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF A NEW BURST OF DEEP CONVECTION WITH PLENTY OF BANDING FEATURES IN THE WESTERN SEMICIRCLE. AN ASCAT MICROWAVE PASS AT 1604 UTC SHOWED 30-35 KT WINDS WITH THIS SYSTEM AND DVORAK SATELLITE CLASSIFICATIONS FROM TAFB/SAB ARE A CONSENSUS T2.5...35 KT. THUS THE DEPRESSION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM GENEVIEVE AND AN INITIAL INTENSITY OF 35 KT WILL BE USED. MODERATE EASTERLY SHEAR SHOULD INHIBIT ANY RAPID DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THEREAFTER...MOST OF THE MODELS SHOW VERY LIGHT SHEAR...AND WITH WATERS THAT ARE PLENTY WARM IN THE PATH OF THE STORM...THE SYSTEM COULD BECOME A HURRICANE IN A FEW DAYS...OR SOONER. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS CLOSE TO A BLEND OF THE SHIPS/LGEM/GFDL MODELS AND IS NEAR THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. GENEVIEVE HAS BEEN MOVING AT ABOUT 280/15 FOR THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THE STORM SHOULD SLOW DOWN RELATIVELY SOON...PERHAPS DUE TO THE RIDGE WEAKENING A LITTLE DUE TO A MID- TO UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH OVER MEXICO. THAT TROUGH DOESN'T LOOK VERY IMPRESSIVE ON WATER VAPOR IMAGES...SO I'M GOING TO KEEP THE STORM ON THE FASTER SIDE OF THE GUIDANCE...BUT NOT AS SPEEDY AS THE GFS. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS ADJUSTED WESTWARD OF THE PREVIOUS ONE. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 21/2100Z 13.9N 102.6W 35 KT 12HR VT 22/0600Z 14.1N 104.3W 40 KT 24HR VT 22/1800Z 14.5N 106.6W 45 KT 36HR VT 23/0600Z 14.9N 108.4W 55 KT 48HR VT 23/1800Z 15.4N 110.4W 60 KT 72HR VT 24/1800Z 16.0N 113.0W 65 KT 96HR VT 25/1800Z 16.5N 116.0W 60 KT 120HR VT 26/1800Z 17.5N 120.0W 55 KT $$ FORECASTER BLAKE