ZCZC MIATCDEP5 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM Hurricane Dora Discussion Number 12 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP052023 500 AM HST Thu Aug 03 2023 Dora's rapid intensification has ended during the past several hours. While the eyewall cloud tops remain quite cold, the eye has become cloud-filled and indistinct. The various subjective and objective satellite intensity estimates have decreased a little, so based on this the initial intensity is set at 110 kt. The initial motion is now 265/16. As mentioned in the previous forecast discussion, a well-established low- to mid-level ridge north of Dora is expected to maintain this general motion for the next several days. The track guidance remains tightly clustered in both speed and direction, and the new forecast track, which is close to the consensus models, has only minor adjustments from the previous forecast. Dora has likely peaked in intensity. While the storm is currently over sea surface temperatures near 28C, the global model forecasts indicate that increasing upper-level easterly winds should produce shear during the next 36-48 h, and this is likely to cause problems for the small inner core. Thus, the intensity forecast follows the trend of the guidance in showing weakening during this time. After 48 h, the shear is forecast to decrease while Dora is over water temperatures of 26-27C. The intensity guidance during this time shows a more gradual weakening than what is expected earlier in the forecast period, and this part of the intensity forecast is near or a little below the intensity consensus. Uncertainty remains high with the intensity forecast since this compact system could be more prone than normal to rapid intensity fluctuations. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 03/1500Z 14.7N 120.1W 110 KT 125 MPH 12H 04/0000Z 14.6N 122.5W 105 KT 120 MPH 24H 04/1200Z 14.2N 125.7W 100 KT 115 MPH 36H 05/0000Z 13.9N 128.6W 90 KT 105 MPH 48H 05/1200Z 13.6N 131.6W 85 KT 100 MPH 60H 06/0000Z 13.4N 134.8W 85 KT 100 MPH 72H 06/1200Z 13.1N 138.3W 85 KT 100 MPH 96H 07/1200Z 13.0N 145.5W 80 KT 90 MPH 120H 08/1200Z 13.0N 153.0W 75 KT 85 MPH $$ Forecaster Beven NNNN