TropicalAnalystwx13 wrote:Unlike last night, when Matthew's circulation was on the edge of the convection due solely to its quick forward motion, there is definitely some shear today. Outflow is no longer expanding west, and instead you can see flow out of the southwest. This shear should persist until tomorrow afternoon, when it should lower once again. Rapid intensification continues to look likely as Matthew makes its curve northwest.
This is the most important point, IMO. Once this shear does actually die down, Matthew should be greeted with favorable conditions and will strengthen rapidly. I don't see this not making at least cat 3; even sheared like this, it's already almost a hurricane.
I'm a busy grad student, not a professional forecaster. Please refer to the NHC and NWS for official forecasts.