Interpretation: winging it as it happens.
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Tropical Depression Four Discussion Number 3
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL042024
1100 PM EDT Fri Aug 02 2024
Shortwave infrared satellite imagery, Cuban radar data, and surface
observations from Cuba and the Cayman Islands suggest that the
disturbance has developed a closed circulation, and the center is
located just off the south coast of Cuba. Deep convection is still
a bit fragmented, but there has been a persistent burst near the
estimated center since earlier this afternoon. The wind and
pressure field could still be a little elongated within the
southern semicircle, but overall the system appears to have enough
organization to now be designated as a tropical depression. The
initial intensity remains 25 kt based on earlier observations.
The depression has not begun to turn yet, and the initial motion is
west-northwestward, or 285/15 kt. A turn toward the northwest and
then north is expected over the weekend due to a break in the
subtropical ridge caused by a trough over the eastern United
States. Since the system has not started to turn yet, this has
caused all of the track guidance to shift west, and the updated NHC
forecast is a bit west of the previous forecast along the eastern
edge of the main cluster of models. It is important to note that
because of the forecast track being parallel to the west coast of
Florida, the location and timing of a potential landfall cannot be
pinned down at this time. One additional significant change to the
forecast is that the models seem to be showing the aforementioned
trough leaving the cyclone behind early next week, which causes a
much slower motion while the system is near the coasts of Georgia
and South Carolina. As a result, the new NHC forecast is notably
slower than the previous forecast, particularly on days 4 and 5.
The westward shift to the track forecast now also keeps the system
over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico longer, giving the
system additional time to potentially strengthen. In fact, the
SHIPS guidance and all of the regional hurricane models show the
cyclone reaching hurricane strength before reaching land in the Big
Bend region of Florida in 2 to 3 days. As a result, the new NHC
forecast brings the intensity to 60 kt at 60 hours as the system is
reaching land, but if model trends continue, it's possible that
future forecasts could explicit show the system becoming a
hurricane before it reaches land. The intensity forecast is more
uncertain on days 3 through 5 due depending on if the center moves
back offshore or stays inland over the southeastern United States.
Key Messages:
1. Heavy rainfall may result in locally considerable flash and urban
flooding across portions of Florida and the coastal areas of the
Southeast U.S. this weekend through Wednesday. Isolated river
flooding will also be possible.
2. Tropical storm conditions are expected Saturday night within the
Tropical Storm Warning area in southwest Florida from East Cape
Sable to Boca Grande and on the Dry Tortugas. Tropical storm
conditions are possible in the remainder of the Florida Keys on
Saturday and along the Florida west coast north of Boca Grande to
Suwannee River Saturday night and Sunday where a Tropical Storm
Watch is in effect.
3. There is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from storm
surge along portions of the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach
to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor, where a
Storm Surge Watch is in effect.
4. Impacts from storm surge, strong winds, and heavy rains are
possible elsewhere in Florida and along the southeast coast of the
United States from Georgia to North Carolina through the middle of
next week, and interests in those areas should continue to monitor
the progress of this system. Additional watches and warnings will
likely be required on Saturday.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 03/0300Z 21.4N 79.7W 25 KT 30 MPH
12H 03/1200Z 22.6N 81.4W 30 KT 35 MPH...OVER CUBA
24H 04/0000Z 24.6N 83.3W 35 KT 40 MPH...OVER WATER
36H 04/1200Z 26.6N 84.1W 45 KT 50 MPH
48H 05/0000Z 28.4N 84.0W 55 KT 65 MPH
60H 05/1200Z 29.9N 83.4W 60 KT 70 MPH...INLAND
72H 06/0000Z 30.8N 82.5W 40 KT 45 MPH...INLAND
96H 07/0000Z 31.8N 80.9W 45 KT 50 MPH...OVER WATER
120H 08/0000Z 32.8N 79.4W 55 KT 65 MPH