000 WTPZ43 KNHC 202045 TCDEP3 Tropical Storm Kiko Discussion Number 34 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP132019 200 PM PDT Fri Sep 20 2019 Kiko hasn't changed much over the past 6 hours. Microwave imagery continues to show a fairly well-defined inner-core, but cloud tops have been warming during the past few hours. Satellite-based estimates continue to hover around 50 kt, and the estimated intensity is therefore held at that value. Kiko has turned to the northwest yet again, and should turn westward later today. There is no change in the forecast reasoning. Kiko will likely move on a wave-like path westward for the next several days, losing latitude as a mid-level ridge to the north amplifies, and gaining latitude as the ridge weakens. The only difference in the NHC forecast is that Kiko is forecast to move very slightly faster than it was before. It should be noted that there is still a decent amount of spread in the guidance regarding how quickly Kiko will move west even though the multi-model consensus, which is the basis for the NHC forecast, has not changed much. The tropical storm may have exhausted its opportunity to strengthen now that it has begun to turn back westward, and all of the reliable intensity guidance forecasts that Kiko will slowly weaken. The NHC forecast shows the same, but maintains Kiko as a tropical storm, still over the eastern North Pacific, through day 5. Kiko is a small tropical cyclone, and small short-term fluctuations in intensity are certainly possible during the next few days, but anticipating such fluctuations is beyond the current science of hurricane forecasting. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 20/2100Z 17.9N 130.8W 50 KT 60 MPH 12H 21/0600Z 18.2N 131.4W 50 KT 60 MPH 24H 21/1800Z 18.1N 132.3W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 22/0600Z 17.5N 133.4W 45 KT 50 MPH 48H 22/1800Z 16.9N 134.4W 45 KT 50 MPH 72H 23/1800Z 16.5N 136.6W 45 KT 50 MPH 96H 24/1800Z 18.2N 137.5W 40 KT 45 MPH 120H 25/1800Z 18.5N 139.0W 40 KT 45 MPH $$ Forecaster Zelinsky