Tropical Storm Margot Discussion Number   3
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL142023
200 AM CVT Fri Sep 08 2023

The convective organization of Margot has changed little tonight. 
The storm is producing some sheared convection to the north of its 
center with modest signs of curvature. An earlier 37 GHz GMI 
microwave image of Margot suggested the low-level center was a bit 
south of previous estimates, and this is consistent with the now 
partially exposed center that has emerged in recent proxy-visible 
imagery. The satellite intensity estimates are unchanged from 
earlier today, and the intensity remains 35 kt for this advisory.  

The SSTs along Margot's track are plenty warm enough to support some 
intensification over the next few days. On the other hand, there is 
a good amount of dry air in the surrounding environment, and 
southwesterly deep-layer shear is forecast to increase over Margot 
during the next several days in association with an upper-level 
trough over the central Atlantic. Interestingly, the increased shear 
diagnosed from the SHIPS guidance occurs around the same time as 
increasing upper-level divergence over the cyclone. This seems to 
suggest that some of the intensification in the global models could 
be driven by positive interaction with the upper trough. Since most 
of the global and regional hurricane models show Margot becoming a 
hurricane during the next few days, the NHC forecast follows suit 
and shows slow strengthening throughout the period. This forecast 
lies between the latest HCCA and IVCN multi-model aids.  

Margot is moving west-northwestward at 295/14 kt around a ridge over 
the eastern Atlantic. This general motion should continue for the 
next couple of days, followed by a turn toward the northwest and 
north-northwest at a slightly slower forward speed at days 3-5 as a 
weakness develops in the subtropical ridge. The track model 
consensus this cycle has trended slower and to the left of the 
previous prediction. As a result, the updated NHC track forecast has 
been adjusted accordingly.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  08/0300Z 16.8N  29.3W   35 KT  40 MPH
12H  08/1200Z 17.5N  31.6W   40 KT  45 MPH
24H  09/0000Z 18.6N  34.4W   45 KT  50 MPH
36H  09/1200Z 19.9N  36.8W   50 KT  60 MPH
48H  10/0000Z 21.2N  38.7W   55 KT  65 MPH
60H  10/1200Z 22.7N  40.1W   60 KT  70 MPH
72H  11/0000Z 24.5N  41.0W   65 KT  75 MPH
96H  12/0000Z 28.0N  42.5W   75 KT  85 MPH
120H  13/0000Z 31.0N  43.0W   80 KT  90 MPH

$$
Forecaster Reinhart