Tropical Cyclone Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
095 WTPZ41 KNHC 210839 TCDEP1 Tropical Storm Odalys Discussion Number 5 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP162026 200 AM PDT Mon Sep 21 2026 Odalys continues to be an asymmetric tropical cyclone this morning, with deep convection primarily confined to the southern and eastern semicircles. The low-level center was exposed for much of the evening. However, over the past couple of hours, a new burst of deep convection has developed near the center. A Metop-B scatterometer pass at 0455 UTC revealed peak winds of only 32 kt. Meanwhile, the latest subjective and objective satellite intensity estimates range from 39 to 45 kt. Blending the scatterometer data with the higher satellite estimates and the subsequent convective burst near the center, the initial intensity is lowered to 40 kt for this advisory. The initial motion is estimated to be northwestward, or 310/11 kt, and this general motion should continue through tonight. A mid- to upper-level trough is expected to move into the eastern Pacific toward the southwest U.S. coast and the Baja California peninsula. This will cause a sharp eastward turn, steering the system east-northeastward to northeastward through the middle of the week between the flow of the trough and a mid-level ridge situated between Odalys and Tropical Storm Polo. The latest NHC track forecast has been shifted to the right of the previous forecast, and lies near the HCCA and GDMI track aids. Odalys will continue to deal with vertical wind shear over the next day or so. Afterward, the guidance suggests the shear should relax slightly while the cyclone remains over warm sea surface temperatures and within a moist environment. This should allow for some gradual strengthening during the next few days. By the middle to latter portion of the forecast period, the latest SHIPS guidance shows the system moving into a drier mid-level environment, with vertical wind shear expected to increase again. In response to these less favorable conditions, several intensity models no longer show Odalys reaching hurricane strength. Although Odalys is still forecast to become a hurricane, the updated NHC intensity forecast lies near the higher end of the guidance envelope, closely following the HCCA consensus aid, and is slightly lower than the previous forecast. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 21/0900Z 13.5N 128.7W 40 KT 45 MPH 12H 21/1800Z 14.4N 129.7W 45 KT 50 MPH 24H 22/0600Z 15.2N 130.3W 45 KT 50 MPH 36H 22/1800Z 15.4N 130.0W 50 KT 60 MPH 48H 23/0600Z 15.5N 129.1W 55 KT 65 MPH 60H 23/1800Z 15.6N 128.0W 60 KT 70 MPH 72H 24/0600Z 15.9N 126.8W 65 KT 75 MPH 96H 25/0600Z 17.2N 124.5W 70 KT 80 MPH 120H 26/0600Z 18.8N 122.6W 60 KT 70 MPH $$ Forecaster Kelly