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#1056547 (Received by flhurricane at: 11:02 AM 12.Aug.2021)
TCDAT1

Tropical Depression Fred Discussion Number 12
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062021
1100 AM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021

Fred is poorly organized this morning. Reports from Air Force
Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft, along with 1-minute
imagery from GOES-16, indicate that the circulation is barely
closed. Dropsondes in the area reported surface pressures of
1013-1014 mb, and the maximum winds of near 30 kt are well to the
northeast of the center. In addition, there is currently no
organized convection anywhere near the center. Based on the
evidence of the closed circulation, the system will be maintained as
tropical depression for this advisory. However, the structure is
currently closer to that of an open wave than a normal tropical
cyclone.

The initial motion is now 300/12. The subtropical ridge over the
western Atlantic north of Fred should steer the cyclone
west-northwestward during the next 36 h or so. This motion should
take the depression away from the southeastern Bahamas and
bring it near the north coast of Cuba. After that time, Fred
should approach the western periphery of the ridge, which should
cause the cyclone to turn northwestward and slow its forward speed.
There remains some uncertainty as to the when and where of the
turn, with the track guidance models remaining spread across a
region from over Florida to the east-central Gulf of Mexico. The
new track forecast is little changed from the previous NHC track,
and it lies a little to the east of the consensus models for the
first 72 h or so.

Fred remains in an environment about 20 kt of westerly vertical
wind shear. This shear is expected to persist during the next day
or so, and this combined with the current disorganization should
prevent significant strengthening during this time. While
there is still disagreement between the global models on the
forecast upper-level winds over the Gulf of Mexico, the shear could
lessen after 36 h and allow some intensification as the cyclone
nears south Florida and moves into the eastern Gulf. The intensity
guidance has trended weaker since the last advisory, with none of
the guidance currently calling for Fred to reach hurricane
strength. The new intensity forecast is similar to the previous
one while Fred is over water, and it follows the overall trend of
the intensity guidance.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Heavy rainfall today could lead to flash, urban, and small stream
flooding, along with possible rapid river rises and the potential
for mudslides in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

2. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the southeastern
Bahamas and portions of Cuba today.

3. Beginning Friday, heavy rainfall could lead to areal, urban, and
small stream flooding, along with possible rapid river rises across
southern Florida. Heavy rainfall associated with Fred will impact
the remainder of Florida and parts of the Southeast this weekend and
into next week.

4. There is a risk of tropical storm conditions beginning early
Saturday in the Florida Keys and south Florida. This risk will
spread northward along portions of the Florida west coast and to the
Florida Panhandle through Monday. A Tropical Storm Watch will likely
be issued for portions of the Florida Keys and the southern Florida
Peninsula this afternoon.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 12/1500Z 20.9N 74.4W 30 KT 35 MPH
12H 13/0000Z 21.8N 76.2W 30 KT 35 MPH
24H 13/1200Z 22.8N 78.3W 30 KT 35 MPH
36H 14/0000Z 23.8N 79.9W 35 KT 40 MPH
48H 14/1200Z 24.8N 81.2W 35 KT 40 MPH
60H 15/0000Z 26.0N 82.4W 40 KT 45 MPH
72H 15/1200Z 27.5N 83.6W 45 KT 50 MPH
96H 16/1200Z 30.5N 85.0W 50 KT 60 MPH...INLAND
120H 17/1200Z 33.5N 85.0W 25 KT 30 MPH...INLAND

$$
Forecaster Beven