000 WTPZ43 KNHC 041433 TCDEP3 TROPICAL STORM POLO DISCUSSION NUMBER 8 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP182008 700 AM PST TUE NOV 04 2008 DEEP CONVECTION HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE NEAR THE CENTER OF POLO OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS. ANALYSES FROM CIMSS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AND THE SHIPS MODEL INDICATE THAT WEST-NORTHWESTERLY SHEAR CONTINUES OVER THE CYCLONE...AND WE ESTIMATE THAT THE CENTER IS LOCATED NEAR THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE DEEP CONVECTION. DVORAK T-NUMBERS FROM TAFB AND SAB AT 1200 UTC WERE 3.0 AND 2.5 RESPECTIVELY. GIVEN THE SHEAR AND THE ESTIMATED DISPLACEMENT OF THE CENTER RELATIVE TO THE DEEP CONVECTION...WE HAVE HELD THE INITIAL INTENSITY AT 35 KT. THE INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE IS 285/10. THERE IS LITTLE CHANGE TO THE TRACK FORECAST REASONING. THE NEW TRACK FORECAST IS CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS TRACK AND IS SHIFTED TOWARD THE NEW GLOBAL MODEL CONSENSUS...DISCOUNTING THE GFDL AND HWRF THAT CONTINUE TO BE RIGHT OUTLIERS. GIVEN THE RECENT IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONVECTIVE APPEARANCE...THE 12 HOUR INTENSITY FORECAST WAS INCREASED TO 40 KT...AND HELD THERE THROUGH 48 HOURS. BEYOND THAT TIME...THE SHIPS MODEL SHOWS SHEAR VALUES INCREASING TO AROUND 40 KT AFTER 72 HOURS...AND THE CYCLONE WILL BE MOVING OVER COOLER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES. THEREFORE...WEAKENING IS INDICATED BY DAY 3 AND BEYOND...IN CLOSEST AGREEMENT WITH THE LGEM. THE CYCLONE IS FORECAST TO BECOME A REMNANT LOW BY DAY 5...HOWEVER GIVEN THE SMALL SIZE OF POLO...IT COULD WEAKEN MORE QUICKLY THAN FORECAST ONCE IT ENCOUNTERS THE STRONGER VERTICAL WIND SHEAR. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 04/1500Z 9.9N 117.6W 35 KT 12HR VT 05/0000Z 10.3N 119.0W 40 KT 24HR VT 05/1200Z 10.9N 120.8W 40 KT 36HR VT 06/0000Z 11.6N 122.5W 40 KT 48HR VT 06/1200Z 12.0N 124.1W 40 KT 72HR VT 07/1200Z 12.5N 127.5W 35 KT 96HR VT 08/1200Z 13.0N 130.5W 30 KT 120HR VT 09/1200Z 13.5N 134.0W 25 KT...REMNANT LOW $$ FORECASTER BRENNAN/PASCH