ZCZC MIATCDEP2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM Tropical Depression Two-E Discussion Number 4 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP022021 900 AM MDT Mon May 31 2021 Satellite images indicate that the depression is getting better organized with deep convection increasing in intensity and coverage during the past several hours. The structure of the system also appears to be improving with some evidence of a central dense overcast trying to form. Although the latest Dvorak estimates from TAFB and SAB support raising the intensity of the system to a 35-kt tropical storm, the ASCAT passes from last night showed that the winds were notably lower than expected and the circulation was broad and lacking a tight wind field. Therefore, the initial intensity is held at 30 kt for this advisory factoring in the aforementioned ASCAT data. However, it seems very likely that the depression will become a tropical storm later today. The depression is currently in favorable conditions of low vertical wind shear, high oceanic content and a moist low- to mid-level environment. These conditions should persist for another day, so short term strengthening is expected. In about 24 hours, however, increasing westerly shear, decreasing moisture, and declining SSTs should induce a gradual weakening trend. The NHC intensity forecast is similar to the previous one and in best agreement with the HCCA guidance, except a little above that model at the longer lead times. The cyclone is moving west-northwestward at 12 kt on the south side of a mid-level ridge. A general west-northwest to northwest motion is expected during the next 2 or 3 days while the system moves on the southwest side of the ridge and toward a weakness caused by a mid- to upper-level trough extending southwestward from the Baja California peninsula. After that time, the weakening and likely decoupled system should turn westward in the low-level flow. The NHC track forecast is a little to the south of the previous one and near the middle of the guidance envelope. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 31/1500Z 12.4N 107.7W 30 KT 35 MPH 12H 01/0000Z 12.9N 109.0W 40 KT 45 MPH 24H 01/1200Z 13.5N 110.2W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 02/0000Z 14.2N 111.3W 45 KT 50 MPH 48H 02/1200Z 14.7N 112.3W 40 KT 45 MPH 60H 03/0000Z 15.1N 113.0W 35 KT 40 MPH 72H 03/1200Z 15.3N 113.8W 35 KT 40 MPH 96H 04/1200Z 15.6N 115.3W 30 KT 35 MPH 120H 05/1200Z 15.8N 117.4W 30 KT 35 MPH $$ Forecaster Cangialosi NNNN