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WTNT42 KNHC 022049TCDAT2Hurricane Larry Discussion Number 9NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL122021500 PM AST Thu Sep 02 2021This afternoon, Larry's appearance has evolved from a small centraldense overcast to a tightly coiled spiral banding pattern, withthese bands wrapping into the estimated center. I finally received auseful SSMIS microwave overpass at 1857 UTC which provided evidencethat Larry could be undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle (ERC).The imagery suggests a large outer eyewall is taking shape on thelow-level 37-GHz channel, while an inner eyewall fragment is stillseen on the mid-level 91-GHz channel. Despite these structuralchanges, the 1800 UTC subjective Dvorak estimates from TAFB and SABwere unchanged from this morning at CI 4.0/65 kt. In addition, thelatest objective intensity estimates from SATCON and ADT have onlyvaried slightly at 73 kt and 74 kt respectively. Taking a blend ofthe subjective and objective estimates still yields 70 kt for thisadvisory.Larry continues to move just north of due west, with the latestmotion estimated at 280/16 kt. There is not much new to report withthe track reasoning, with a large mid-level ridge currently north ofLarry expected to steer the hurricane to the west or west-northwestover the next 2-3 days. Over time, the ridge axis is forecast toslowly shift further northeast of Larry's position, allowing thehurricane to gradually gain a more rightward component of motion bythe end of the forecast period. In general, the track guidanceremains tightly clustered for the first 2-3 days. There was anotable shift west in the latest 12z GFS deterministic track, whilethe 12z ECMWF shifted ever so slightly right. A quick look at the12z ECMWF ensemble guidance reveals that the deterministic run is abit to the northeast of the ensemble mean. The latest NHC track hasbeen shifted slightly to the south and west of the previous track,following the reliable HFIP corrected consensus aid (HCCA) whichalso shifted a bit south and west this cycle.Once Larry completes the ongoing ERC, significant or even rapidintensification is anticipated. The short-term intensity forecasthas been raised a bit more, since it appears more likely the presentERC will finish in the next 6-12 h. The latest NHC intensityforecast now makes Larry a major hurricane by tomorrow night, withfurther intensification up to Category 4 intensity anticipated bySunday. Once again, there remains some discrepancy in the verticalwind shear forecast between the GFS- and ECMWF-based SHIPS guidance,with the ECMWF forecasting significantly more southwesterly shearbeyond 72 hours. Both guidance tools also indicate a decrease inmid-level relative humidity which, if the shear materializes, coulddisrupt Larry's inner core structure. Thus, the NHC intensityforecast still shows gradual weakening from 72 to 120 hours. Thelatest intensity forecast is just a hair above HCCA in the shortterm, with the intensity forecast most closely following the latestCOAMPS-TC (CTCI) guidance in the first three days.FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDSINIT 02/2100Z 13.7N 35.8W 70 KT 80 MPH12H 03/0600Z 14.0N 38.4W 80 KT 90 MPH24H 03/1800Z 14.7N 41.3W 95 KT 110 MPH36H 04/0600Z 15.7N 43.9W 105 KT 120 MPH48H 04/1800Z 16.9N 46.3W 110 KT 125 MPH60H 05/0600Z 18.3N 48.6W 120 KT 140 MPH72H 05/1800Z 19.7N 50.6W 120 KT 140 MPH96H 06/1800Z 22.2N 54.0W 115 KT 130 MPH120H 07/1800Z 25.1N 57.0W 110 KT 125 MPH$$Forecaster Papin