ZCZC HFOTCDCP3 ALL TTAA00 PHFO DDHHMM TROPICAL STORM DARBY DISCUSSION NUMBER 46 NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI EP052016 500 PM HST FRI JUL 22 2016 Tropical Storm Darby is very asymmetric in the satellite images this afternoon with deep convection mainly within a band wrapping around its western semicircle. This was also seen in the 2231 UTC GPM pass, along with a separate rainband southeast of the center. High clouds have been streaming toward the northeast which indicates the cyclone is beginning to feel an approaching upper level trough. One of the later passes through Darby by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's WC-130J helped confirm the center position of the system toward the end of the morning mission though the aircraft had to fly lower to find it. Based on the morning recon mission and the maintenance of deep convection, the initial intensity has been held at 50 kt. Note that this is higher than the subjective Dvorak estimates of 45 kt from PHFO and SAB, and 30 kt from JTWC. The next aircraft mission into Darby is scheduled for this evening. Darby is estimated to be moving at 280/11 kt to the south of a ridge. This ridge is forecast to weaken due to a low pressure system digging southward to the north of cyclone. This weakness is expected to decrease Darby's forward motion over the next day, and increase the amount of vertical shear affecting the system this weekend. The trusted dynamical models have remained largely consistent today, bringing Darby over the Big Island on Saturday. Thus, the current forecast has been nudged southward closer to the dynamical consensus with a landfall on the Big Island, followed by a path over Maui County and near Oahu. The latter part of this path assumes that Darby survives its impact with the Big Island which is not a certainty. The intensity forecast rationale remains the same since the last package. The main factors affecting the intensity forecast include marginal sea surface temperatures, the amount and timing of vertical wind shear, and the effects of any potential interactions with the Hawaiian Islands. Sea surface temperatures will remain marginal near 26.5C over the next couple of days but vertical shear is expected to increase as the previously mentioned upper level trough digs farther south. This shear increase is not expected to become strong until later this weekend. The forecast calls for only slow weakening with Darby maintaining tropical storm strength through the weekend. This is consistent with the previous package but slightly lower than the intensity consensus. Interactions with the Big Island may cause significant disruptions to Darby so the intensity forecast confidence is not high at this time. The expected movement of Darby, as well as the latest wind probability guidance, warrants the issuance of a Tropical Storm Watch for the island of Oahu with this package. Interests outside of the watch and warning areas in the Hawaiian Islands should continue to monitor the progress of Darby. Remember, it is important not to focus too closely on the exact track and intensity forecasts because the average track error 72 hours out is near 100 miles, while the average intensity error is about 15 kt. In addition, the hazards of a tropical cyclone can extend over a broad area well away from the center. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 23/0300Z 18.7N 152.1W 50 KT 60 MPH 12H 23/1200Z 18.9N 153.5W 50 KT 60 MPH 24H 24/0000Z 19.4N 154.7W 45 KT 50 MPH 36H 24/1200Z 20.2N 155.8W 45 KT 50 MPH 48H 25/0000Z 21.2N 157.1W 40 KT 45 MPH 72H 26/0000Z 23.5N 160.0W 40 KT 45 MPH 96H 27/0000Z 27.0N 163.0W 35 KT 40 MPH 120H 28/0000Z 31.0N 165.6W 30 KT 35 MPH $$ Forecaster Kodama NNNN