TROPICAL DEPRESSION 09F CENTRE [997hPa] WAS LOCATED NEAR 13.4S 167.3W AT 120000 UTC MOVING EASTWARDS AT 10 KNOTS. POSITION POOR BASED ON GOES10 EIR AND VIS IMAGERY WITH ANIMATION. 10-MINUTE AVERAGE WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE, INCREASING TO 35 KNOTS WITHIN 60 MILES OF CENTRE IN THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
THE LLCC IS SLIPPING UNDER THE CDO. SYSTEM ORGANISATION HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH BANDING TO THE EAST, WRAPPING 0.6 ON LOG10 SPIRAL. DVORAK ASSESSMENT DT =3.0, MET=PT=2.5 GIVING T2.5/2.5/D1.0/24HRS. 09F REMAINS IN A REGION OF STRONG DIFFLUENCE. THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH TO THE WEST IS WEAKENING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SHEAR HAS DECREASED. OUTFLOW BECOMING GOOD IN ALL QUADRANTS ENHANCED BY CROSS-EQUATORIAL WIND FLOW TO THE NORTH AND BY AN APPROACHING TROUGH TO THE SOUTHWEST IN THE SOUTHERN SEMICIRCLE. WESTERLY STEERING EXPECTED TO DECREASE AS 09F INTERACTS WITH A MID LEVEL RIDGE TO THE SOUTHEAST. GLOBAL MODELS FORECAST FURTHER INTENSIFICATION AND MOVE THE SYSTEM SOUTHWARDS.
FORECASTS:
AT 12 HRS VALID AT 121200 UTC 13.7S 166.9W MOV SE AT 05 KT WITH 35 KT CLOSE TO CENTRE
AT 24 HRS VALID AT 130000 UTC 13.9S 167.1W MOV S AT 03 KT WITH 40 KT CLOSE TO CENTRE
OUTLOOK:
AT 36 HRS VALID AT 131200 UTC 14.3S 167.3W SSW 05 WITH 45 KT CLOSE TO CENTRE
AT 48 HRS VALID AT 140000 UTC 15.1S 167.1W MOV SSE AT 05 KT WITH 50 KT CLOSE TO CENTRE.
THE NEXT TROPICAL DISTURBANCE ADVISORY ON 09F WILL BE ISSUED AT 120830 UTC.
TD 09F / Invest 93P continues to get better organized and an official tropical cyclone can develop during the weekend to come. Warm waters, low shear, and slow movement should allow the system to intensify. The next name to be used in the South Pacific would be "Nancy;" a beautiful name for a tropical cyclone. Don't you think so?








