Tropical Storm Lowell Forecast Discussion
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134 WTPA44 PHFO 301445 TCDCP4 Tropical Storm Lowell Discussion Number 12 NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI EP122026 Issued by NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 500 AM HST Sun Aug 30 2026 Lowell is still showing signs of easterly shear, with the low-level center just under the eastern edge of the convective overcast. Satellite intensity estimates are in the 35-45 kt range and have changed little since the last advisory. Thus, the initial intensity remains 45 kt. The initial motion is now 270/11 kt. As before, a low- to mid-level ridge north of the cyclone should remain the primary steering influence during the next couple of days, resulting in a continued generally westward motion. After that, there is considerable cross-track spread in the guidance, likely due in part to the potential influence of Hurricane Karina to the northeast on Lowell's steering flow. The HFIP Corrected Consensus (HCCA), the UKMET, and the Google DeepMind ensemble mean continue to show a more westward motion days 3-4, while the GFS, ECMWF, and the regional hurricane models show a west-northwestward motion. The Canadian model is still calling for an interaction with Karina that would cause Lowell to become nearly stationary, but that solution looks unlikely at the moment. The new forecast track lies a little to the north of the HCCA forecast and a little to the north of the previous forecast. For the past two days, the forecast has been for the shear to let up and Lowell to start strengthening, but this has not yet happened. The guidance, though, continues to forecast this, and while the cirrus outflow is restricted to the east there is more of it than there was yesterday. The new intensity forecast will follow the guidance trend and show the system strengthening through 96 h, with the forecast in the middle of the intensity guidance envelope. The intensity near the end of the forecast period will depend on how close Lowell and the larger Karina are, as the closer they are the weaker Lowell is likely to be. For now, the forecast shows Lowell's intensity leveling off by 120 h. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 30/1500Z 13.3N 140.4W 45 KT 50 MPH 12H 31/0000Z 13.3N 142.0W 45 KT 50 MPH 24H 31/1200Z 13.3N 144.1W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 01/0000Z 13.3N 146.1W 60 KT 70 MPH 48H 01/1200Z 13.5N 148.0W 70 KT 80 MPH 60H 02/0000Z 13.7N 149.9W 80 KT 90 MPH 72H 02/1200Z 13.9N 151.6W 90 KT 105 MPH 96H 03/1200Z 14.5N 154.8W 95 KT 110 MPH 120H 04/1200Z 15.4N 157.7W 95 KT 110 MPH $$ Forecaster Beven