ZCZC MIATCDEP3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM TROPICAL STORM CRISTINA DISCUSSION NUMBER 24 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP032014 200 AM PDT SUN JUN 15 2014 Although Cristina has been devoid of deep convection for about 12 hours now, shallow to moderate convection has encircled the cyclone center with some cloud tops to -30C located about 60 nmi north of the center. Given that Cristina is moving westward over SSTs near 27C, tropical storm status is being maintained for this advisory in the event that convection redevelops near the center later this morning. The initial intensity of 35 kt is based on an average of satellite current intensity estimates of 35 kt from both TAFB and SAB, 31 kt from UW-CIMSS ADT, and 36 kt from CIRA-AMSU. Cristina has been moving westward, or 270/05 kt, for the past 6 hours. However, this is likely only a temporary wobble due to the mid- and upper-level circulations having decoupled and sheared out to the north and northeast. The consensus of the model guidance calls for Cristina and its remnant circulation to gradually turn toward the west-northwest later today, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Monday as the cyclone moves slowly toward a developing weakness in the subtropical ridge. The official forecast track is slightly to the left of the previous advisory to account for the more westward initial position. Water vapor imagery indicates that the small, cold upper-low that has induced southwesterly wind shear across the cyclone has recently become juxtaposed with Cristina's low-level circulation. Although it is doubtful that the tropical storm will regenerate into a vertically deep cyclone as a result of this short-lived interaction, the cold air aloft associated with the upper-low could temporarily enhance the develop of some convection near the center today before Cristina moves over sub-26C SSTs. Otherwise, a gradual spin down of the cyclone is expected over the next 72 hours, and the official intensity forecast calls for Cristina to become a post-tropical low later today and dissipate in about 3-4 days, if not sooner. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 15/0900Z 19.8N 112.7W 35 KT 40 MPH 12H 15/1800Z 20.2N 113.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 24H 16/0600Z 20.9N 114.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 36H 16/1800Z 21.5N 115.5W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 48H 17/0600Z 22.2N 116.4W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 72H 18/0600Z 23.3N 117.3W 15 KT 15 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 96H 19/0600Z...DISSIPATED $$ Forecaster Stewart NNNN