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Hurricane Dean (04L)
Tropical Cyclone Warning - Atlantic
Forecast #1 - 2100 UTC 16 August 2007...Hurricane Dean east of the Windward Islands and approaching Barbados...
Estimated Position: 13.6°N 56.2°W (confidence fair)
Maximum Sustained Winds: 85 knots (100 mph)
Minimum Central Pressure: 975 hPa
Movement: WNW at 18 knots
OFFICIAL WATCHES AND WARNINGSHurricane Warning - Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Lucia
Tropical Storm Warning - Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Saba, St. Eustatius, Montserrat, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Maarten
Tropical Storm Watch - Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
DISCUSSIONHurricane Dean (04L) has developed somewhat quickly today. The system seems to have excellent organization, with good convective banding and outflow in all quadrants. However, it does not seem to have a complete eyewall at this time, and it is difficult to see the eye without using BD-IR imagery. Upper-level shear imagery shows that Dean is in an area of low shear that has been moving westward with the cyclone, which is conducive to continued development. Water vapor imagery shows dry air to the west, but as of yet this dry air has not entrained into the circulation due to its good outflow. Dvorak estimates were T4.5/4.5 from SAB and T4.5/4.5 from TAFB. Given recon measurements of 974 hPa, the intensity is estimated to be 85 kt.
There is not much thought required for the forecast track here. The models are in excellent agreement with a general westward track through the Caribbean Sea over the next 72 hours. There is divergence after this point, with the GFDL, HWRF, and GFDN taking the center of Dean to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula and into the central Gulf of Mexico. For now, the forecast track is along the consensus of the NCEP GFS ensemble, CMC, BAMD, SHIPS, UKMO, GFDL, GFDN, interpolated HWRF, and LBAR model guidance. Dean should continue strengthening along this track and could become a major hurricane by the end of the 72 hour forecast period. Rapid intensification is a possibility due to high heat content and low shear ahead.
Along this track, Dean may approach or brush Jamaica.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDSInit...13.6°N 56.2°W...85 kt
12 hr...13.8°N 59.6°W...90 kt
24 hr...14.1°N 62.8°W...100 kt
36 hr...14.5°N 65.9°W...110 kt
48 hr...15.0°N 69.0°W...120 kt
72 hr...16.5°N 76.0°W...125 kt
The next forecast will be issued around 0730 UTC. Refer to products from the National Hurricane Center for more information on this system.