TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1605 UTC TUE SEP 20 2005

TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN FROM
THE EQUATOR TO 32N…EAST OF 140W. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS
BASED ON SATELLITE IMAGERY…WEATHER OBSERVATIONS…RADAR…AND
METEOROLOGICAL ANALYSIS.

BASED ON 1200 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE IMAGERY THROUGH
1545 UTC.

…SPECIAL FEATURES…

HURRICANE KENNETH IS NEAR 13.2N 131.4W 987 MB AT 1500 UTC SEP 20
AND IS DRIFTING W AT 2 KT.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE 65 KT
WITH GUSTS TO 80 KT.  NORTHERLY SHEAR CONTINUES TO INHIBIT
CONVECTION IN THE NORTHERN SEMICIRCLE. CURRENTLY…SCATTERED TO
NUMEROUS STRONG CONVECTION IS WITHIN 75 NM OF THE CENTER AND
SCATTERED MODERATE TO STRONG CONVECTION IS ELSEWHERE WITHIN 180
NM OVER THE SOUTH SEMICIRCLE. THE EYE HAS BECOME RATHER LARGE
AND RAGGED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. THE SHEAR IS FORECAST TO
CONTINUE WITH A FORECAST FOR WEAKENING TO A TROPICAL STORM
WITHIN 12 HOURS. KENNETH IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN AN AREA OF WEAK
STEERING AND THIS IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR THE NEXT 24
HOURS…THEREAFTER A MID-LEVEL RIDGE TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE
CYCLONE SHOULD PUSH KENNETH WNW WITH KENNETH CONTINUING TO
WEAKEN THEREAFTER. SEE LATEST NHC FORECAST/ADVISORY UNDER
AWIPS/WMO HEADERS MIATCMEP1 / WTPZ21 KNHC FOR MORE DETAILS.