ZCZC MIATCDEP2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM Tropical Storm Blanca Discussion Number 6 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP022021 900 PM MDT Mon May 31 2021 The satellite presentation of Blanca has continued to improve this evening. Bursts of deep convection have recently developed near the estimated center, which has led to an increase in banding that can be seen in the latest microwave imagery. Subjective Dvorak classifications are T3.0 (45 kt) and T3.5 (55 kt) from TAFB and SAB, respectively. Based on these data and the continued organization seen in recent satellite imagery, the initial intensity has been set at 50 kt for this advisory. Blanca is currently located within a favorable environment for strengthening that consists of low vertical wind shear, warm sea surface temperatures, and a moist atmosphere. These conditions favor additional strengthening during the next 12 hours or so, but by Tuesday afternoon increasing southwesterly shear is likely to put an end to Blanca's intensification phase. After that time, an additional increase in shear and gradually decreasing sea surface temperatures are expected to cause slow weakening throughout the remainder of the forecast period. Blanca is now forecast to become a remnant low by day 5, but it could occur a little sooner than that. The NHC intensity forecast is in best agreement with the HCCA and ICON consensus aids. The initial motion estimate is 300/8 kt, a little slower toward the west-northwest than before. A deepening mid- to upper-level trough near the central portion of the Baja peninsula is forecast to weaken the western extent of the ridge, which is expected to cause Blanca to slow its forward speed over the next couple of days. As the tropical storm weakens in 2-3 days, it should turn more westward when it becomes a vertically shallow system and is steered by the low-level easterly trade wind flow. Although there is an increase in the spread of the guidance after 72 hours, the latest NHC track forecast remains near the middle of the guidance envelope, and it is very similar to the previous official forecast. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 01/0300Z 13.9N 109.4W 50 KT 60 MPH 12H 01/1200Z 14.4N 110.4W 55 KT 65 MPH 24H 02/0000Z 15.1N 111.6W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 02/1200Z 15.6N 112.5W 45 KT 50 MPH 48H 03/0000Z 15.9N 113.2W 40 KT 45 MPH 60H 03/1200Z 16.0N 113.8W 35 KT 40 MPH 72H 04/0000Z 16.1N 114.6W 35 KT 40 MPH 96H 05/0000Z 16.1N 116.5W 30 KT 35 MPH 120H 06/0000Z 16.2N 118.4W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW $$ Forecaster Brown NNNN