

25/2033 UTC 12.5S 160.8E T2.0/2.0 93P
THE AREA OF CONVECTION PREVIOUSLY LOCATED NEAR 12.2S
158.0E IS NOW LOCATED NEAR 12.7S 159.6E, APPROXIMATELY 195 NM
SOUTH OF HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS. RECENT ANIMATED INFRARED
SATELLITE IMAGERY AND A 251220Z TRMM MICROWAVE PASS SHOW CON-
VECTION BANDING DEVELOPING NEAR A CONSOLIDATING LOW LEVEL CIR-
CULATION CENTER. THE DISTURBANCE LIES UNDER THE AXIS OF AN
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE, WITH LOW VERTICAL WIND SHEAR AND FAVORABLE
DIFFLUENCE ALOFT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE ESTIMATED AT 25
TO 30 KNOTS. MINIMUM SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IS ESTIMATED TO BE
NEAR 1002 MB. THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS IS
UPGRADED TO FAIR.