ZCZC MIATCDEP3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM Tropical Storm Hernan Discussion Number 3 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP132020 400 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020 Despite the rather poor presentation in satellite imagery, a recent ASCAT overpass showed that tropical-storm-force winds partially associated with a broader scale monsoon gyre are occurring over the southern portion of the circulation about 50-90 n mi from the center. Based on the wind data, the initial intensity has been raised to 35 kt, and the depression has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Hernan. Hernan is a sheared tropical cyclone, with only a small area of deep convection just to the south of the center. The SHIPS guidance indicates that this shear will continue throughout the forecast period. While the cyclone remains over very warm waters of about 29 degrees C for the next 24-36 h, there should be sufficient convection to maintain Hernan's current intensity. However, after 36 h the cyclone will move over relatively cooler waters of about 26 C. These very marginal water temperatures combined with the ongoing shear should cause Hernan to weaken, and the system is expected to degenerate to a remnant low by 60 h, as indicated by the GFS simulated satellite. The NHC intensity is a blend of the various corrected consensus aids and the SHIPS intensity guidance. Hernan appears to have made its anticipated turn to the northeast and the initial motion is 040/5 kt. The cyclone is expected to turn north then northwest over the next 24 h as it pivots around inside a cyclonic gyre that includes Tropical Depression Fourteen-E to its west. After that time, Hernan should be steered west-northwestward to westward by a mid-tropospheric ridge anchored over the southwestern U.S.. On this forecast track, Hernan and most of its winds and convection should remain just offshore the southwestern coast of Mexico today and Thursday, and pass near or just south of the southern tip of Baja California Sur on Friday and Saturday. The official NHC forecast is little changed from the previous one, and is near the various consensus aids. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 26/2100Z 17.7N 105.8W 35 KT 40 MPH 12H 27/0600Z 18.4N 105.7W 35 KT 40 MPH 24H 27/1800Z 19.5N 106.1W 35 KT 40 MPH 36H 28/0600Z 20.7N 107.3W 35 KT 40 MPH 48H 28/1800Z 21.7N 108.9W 30 KT 35 MPH 60H 29/0600Z 22.2N 110.7W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 72H 29/1800Z 22.5N 112.7W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 96H 30/1800Z 22.4N 115.1W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 120H 31/1800Z...DISSIPATED $$ Forecaster Latto NNNN