ZCZC MIATCDEP2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM Tropical Storm Lowell Discussion Number 6 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP172020 900 PM MDT Mon Sep 21 2020 Lowell's satellite presentation has changed little during the past several hours. Lowell remains a sheared tropical cyclone with a few new bursts of deep convection evident to the west of the rather poorly defined and exposed surface circulation center. The initial intensity is held at 40 kt for this advisory and is in best agreement with the various subjective and objective satellite intensity estimates. Modest northeasterly shear is still impinging over the eastern half of the cyclone and this inhibiting factor should relax within the next 12 hours or so. As a result, Lowell should strengthen with time through the 48 to 60 hour period as the cyclone traverses warm water and continues moving within a moist surrounding environment. Through the remaining portion of the forecast, Lowell is expected to enter a more stable and drier marine layer which should cause the cyclone to gradual weaken. The NHC intensity forecast is close to the NOAA HCCA consensus and the Decay SHIPS, and above the LGEM which indicates very little change in strength during the next 5 days. The initial motion is estimated to be westward, or 280/11 kt. Low- to mid tropospheric easterly flow produced by a subtropical ridge anchored to the north of Lowell should steer it in a generally west-northwestward motion through Wednesday night. Around the 60 hour period, a turn back toward the west is expected as the aforementioned ridge builds farther west. The official forecast is basically an update of the previous advisory and is close to the HFIP Corrected Consensus Approach model. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 22/0300Z 17.7N 114.5W 40 KT 45 MPH 12H 22/1200Z 18.4N 116.2W 45 KT 50 MPH 24H 23/0000Z 19.0N 118.3W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 23/1200Z 19.5N 120.1W 55 KT 65 MPH 48H 24/0000Z 19.9N 121.8W 60 KT 70 MPH 60H 24/1200Z 20.0N 123.4W 60 KT 70 MPH 72H 25/0000Z 20.0N 125.0W 60 KT 70 MPH 96H 26/0000Z 20.0N 128.4W 55 KT 65 MPH 120H 27/0000Z 20.1N 131.8W 45 KT 50 MPH $$ Forecaster Roberts NNNN