000 WTPZ43 KNHC 250233 TCDEP3 TROPICAL STORM GENEVIEVE DISCUSSION NUMBER 15 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP082008 800 PM PDT THU JUL 24 2008 THE DEEP CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH GENEVIEVE CONTINUES TO BE ASYMMETRICALLY DISTRIBUTED...AS MOST OF THE COLDEST-TOPPED CLOUDS ARE DISPLACED TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST OF THE ESTIMATED CENTER. BANDING FEATURES ARE NOT WELL-DEFINED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT INTENSITY ESTIMATE REMAINS 50 KT...WHICH IS BETWEEN THE DVORAK ESTIMATES FROM TAFB AND SAB. CONCURRENT 85 GHZ AND 37 GHZ SSM/I IMAGES FROM A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO SUGGEST THAT THERE IS SOME NORTHWARD TILT OF THE CIRCULATION WITH HEIGHT...SUGGESTING SOUTHERLY SHEAR. HOWEVER THE SHIPS OUTPUT INDICATES 10 KT OR LESS OF EAST-NORTHEASTERLY SHEAR FOR THE NEXT 36 HOURS OR SO. PERHAPS THE GFS...WHICH PROVIDES THE DYNAMICAL INPUT FOR SHIPS... IS UNDERESTIMATING THE STRENGTH OF THE UPPER-LEVEL SOUTHERLIES OVER THE STORM. NOTWITHSTANDING...THE SHIPS MODEL DOES NOT FORECAST MUCH INCREASE IN STRENGTH...NOR DOES THE OFFICIAL FORECAST. IN 36 HOURS OR SO...GENEVIEVE SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAKEN DUE TO AN INCREASINGLY LESS CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC ENVIRONMENT. INITIAL MOTION IS ABOUT 285/7. A MID-LEVEL RIDGE TO THE NORTH OF THE STORM SHOULD MAINTAIN A SLIGHTLY NORTH OF WESTWARD MOTION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE OFFICIAL TRACK FORECAST IS NOT TOO DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE...AND IS CLOSE TO THE DYNAMICAL MODEL CONSENSUS. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 25/0300Z 15.8N 113.8W 50 KT 12HR VT 25/1200Z 16.0N 115.0W 55 KT 24HR VT 26/0000Z 16.3N 116.8W 55 KT 36HR VT 26/1200Z 16.7N 118.8W 50 KT 48HR VT 27/0000Z 17.1N 121.0W 45 KT 72HR VT 28/0000Z 18.0N 125.0W 35 KT 96HR VT 29/0000Z 18.5N 128.5W 25 KT...REMNANT LOW 120HR VT 30/0000Z 18.5N 132.0W 20 KT...REMNANT LOW $$ FORECASTER PASCH