ZCZC HFOTCDCP2 ALL TTAA00 PHFO DDHHMM Tropical Storm Flossie Discussion Number 27 NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI EP072019 500 PM HST Sat Aug 03 2019 The satellite presentation of Flossie remains degraded this afternoon. Pulsing deep convection is confined to the northeast quadrant, and outflow remains restricted in the southwestern semicircle. Subjective Dvorak current intensity estimates were unchanged from the last advisory, ranging from 2.0 at SAB to 2.5 out of JTWC and HFO, and CIMSS ADT was less than 2.5. These inputs all suggest that Flossie is no stronger than 35 kt. However, an ASCAT pass from this morning showed wind retrievals near 40 kt. Given the unimpressive satellite presentation, the initial intensity will be lowered to 40 kt. The low-level circulation center has been periodically obscured by thin high clouds, but the center has been exposed enough to obtain a fairly confident initial motion of 280/11 kt. During the next 48 hours, Flossie is expected to be steered generally toward the west-northwest by a low- to mid-level ridge to the north. Thereafter, a turn toward the northwest and an eventual loss of forward speed are expected, as the ridge weakens and Flossie interacts with an upper-level trough parked north of Hawaii. The forecast track was altered little from the prior advisory through 24 hours and was again nudged to the left at 48 hours and beyond, bringing the weakening tropical cyclone closer to Hawaii. This change keeps the forecast track closer to TVCN but still places it toward the right side of the guidance envelope closer to the better performing ECMWF. Flossie is expected to gradually weaken during the next few days. Flossie remains under an upper-level ridge this afternoon, but it has not been able to produce any sustained increase in deep convection due to outflow aloft remaining largely confined to north and northeast quadrants. Flossie will move north of the upper-level ridge axis tonight and begin to encounter increasing southwesterly vertical wind shear. The wind shear will increase to around 30 kt by tomorrow and will remain in place throughout the forecast period, leading to a steady weakening of Flossie. The intensity forecast is mainly an update of the prior forecast, weakening Flossie to a tropical depression Sunday night and to a remnant low Tuesday. The forecast closely follows IVCN and weakens Flossie at a slightly slower rate than SHIPS and LGEM. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 04/0300Z 18.9N 145.6W 40 KT 45 MPH 12H 04/1200Z 19.3N 147.1W 40 KT 45 MPH 24H 05/0000Z 19.6N 149.3W 35 KT 40 MPH 36H 05/1200Z 20.0N 151.6W 30 KT 35 MPH 48H 06/0000Z 20.6N 153.9W 30 KT 35 MPH 72H 07/0000Z 22.9N 157.5W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 96H 08/0000Z 24.3N 159.4W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 120H 09/0000Z...DISSIPATED $$ Forecaster Wroe NNNN