774
WTPA42 PHFO 260236
TCDCP2
Tropical Storm Lala Discussion Number 55
NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI CP012026
Issued by NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
500 PM HST Tue Aug 25 2026
Lala continues to exhibit a symmetric convective structure as it
moves over cooler waters. An ASCAT pass from around 2200 UTC
captured much of Lala’s inner core and revealed max winds at around
40 kt. Objective Dvorak estimates range from 45-55 kt, while
subjective Dvorak estimates from JTWC and HFO reflect a weakening
trend with a 2.0/2.5 and 2.5/3.0, respectively. Given the quality of
the ASCAT pass, the initial intensity was held steady at 45 kt.
The motion of the cyclone remains slow as it approaches the
International Dateline. The initial motion was estimated at 295/5
kt. Lala continues to be guided to the west-northwest by a high
pressure ridge centered over the central Pacific, just to the
northeast of the storm. Global forecast models suggest that the
ridge will remain stagnant over the next couple of days, which
should keep Lala moving at a slow speed as it rounds the ridge’s
westward flank. Eventually, Lala will gain forward speed as it moves
away from the ridge’s influence and turns more northward. Little
change was made to the track forecast from the previous advisory.
The storm is expected to move over continuously cooling waters
before encountering a more hostile vertical wind shear environment
over the next 24 hours. By Thursday, Lala is anticipated to become
post-tropical, with simulated satellite imagery from the ECMWF
suggesting that the storm will ultimately dissipate over the
weekend. Lala’s dissipation time was moved up roughly 24 hours from
the previous forecast, otherwise the overall intensity trend was
generally left intact.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 26/0300Z 35.2N 177.6W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 26/1200Z 35.6N 178.2W 40 KT 45 MPH
24H 27/0000Z 36.1N 178.7W 40 KT 45 MPH
36H 27/1200Z 37.0N 179.4W 40 KT 45 MPH
48H 28/0000Z 37.7N 179.9E 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
60H 28/1200Z 38.3N 179.0E 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
72H 29/0000Z 39.0N 177.8E 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
96H 30/0000Z 43.5N 175.0E 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
120H 31/0000Z...DISSIPATED
$$
Forecaster Evans/Cangialosi