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The 2024 season is officially over after a brutal number of landfals, a stunning rampup in the back-half and a record-early Cat 5.
Days since last H. Landfall - US: Any 54 (Milton) , Major: 54 (Milton) Florida - Any: 54 (Milton) Major: 54 (Milton)
 
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#1194576 (Received by flhurricane at: 4:48 AM 19.Aug.2024)
TCDAT5

Hurricane Ernesto Discussion Number 31
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL052024
500 AM AST Mon Aug 19 2024

Satellite imagery shows that Ernesto`s eye is irregularly-shaped,
with fairly cold convective cloud tops over the northern portion of
the circulation. The southwestern part of the high cloud canopy is
beginning to become slightly blunted, which suggests some
southwesterly shear is beginning to affect the system. The
various objective intensity estimates from UW-CIMSS indicate that, a
couple of hours ago, the hurricane strengthened a little more, but
recently the overall cloud pattern appears to have become a little
less organized. This suggests that Ernesto has stopped
strengthening, and the current intensity estimate is set at 75 kt
which is in general agreement with subjective Dvorak T-numbers.

Center fixes indicate a gradual increase in forward speed overnight
and the initial motion estimate is 030/18 kt. Ernesto is expected
to accelerate northeastward in the flow ahead of a large deep-layer
trough near the U.S. east coast for the next 24 hours or so. This
motion should bring the center of the cyclone near southeastern
Newfoundland tonight or early Tuesday. Based on the NHC
forecast, most of the stronger winds in the system`s circulation
are expected to stay offshore of Newfoundland. Thereafter, a
faster east-northeastward motion over the North Atlantic is forecast
while the cyclone becomes fully embedded within the mid-latitude
westerlies. In 2-3 days, Ernesto is likely to open up into a
trough while merging with a large extratropical low to the south of
Iceland. The official track forecast follows the latest dynamical
model consensus and is just slightly to the north of the previous
NHC prediction.

Ernesto will be traversing significantly cooler waters later today
and will be impacted by increasing west-southwesterly vertical wind
shear during the next day or two. Therefore, a weakening trend
should begin by tonight or earlier. The official intensity forecast
is quite similar to the latest Decay-SHIPS numerical guidance.
Simulated satellite imagery from the global models suggest that the
system will become post-tropical within the next day or so.


Key Messages:

1. Even though Ernesto is forecast to remain well offshore of the
U.S. East Coast, swells generated by the hurricane will continue to
affect the area through the early part of this week. Beach goers
should be aware that there is a significant risk of life-threatening
surf and rip currents, and should stay out of the water if advised
by lifeguards. Surf and rip currents are also possible on the
Bahamas, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada during the next few days.

2. Ernesto will likely bring some wind, wave, and rain impacts to
portions of southeastern Newfoundland tonight into Tuesday morning.
Breaking waves could bring the possibility of coastal flooding,
particularly along southwest-facing shorelines from Bunin east to
Avalon regions. For additional impact specific information, please
see statements issued by the Canadian Hurricane Centre.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 19/0900Z 40.2N 60.5W 75 KT 85 MPH
12H 19/1800Z 42.7N 57.3W 75 KT 85 MPH
24H 20/0600Z 46.3N 51.0W 65 KT 75 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
36H 20/1800Z 49.0N 41.8W 50 KT 60 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
48H 21/0600Z 50.8N 30.8W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
60H 21/1800Z 53.0N 19.5W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
72H 22/0600Z...DISSIPATED

$$
Forecaster Pasch