NHC has way backed off on the forecast and now mentions the possibility of dissipation
It's probably time to put more weight on the dynamical models for
Karen's future intensity. The cyclone has continued to struggle
in its environment, which is essentially what those models have been
indicating all along. Even the statistical-dynamical models, which
are explicitly showing strengthening, indicate that the environment
won't be very favorable, with convergence aloft and a dry mid-level
air mass. Because of those factors, and the lower initial
intensity, the NHC intensity forecast has been lowered considerably
from this morning's forecast. It still allows for the possibility
of some strengthening, but if model trends continue, the official
forecast could be lowered further in subsequent advisories. And if
the global models are correct, Karen could even lose deep
convection, and hence become post-tropical, in about 3 days.