103  
WTPZ44 KNHC 302045  
TCDEP4  
 
TROPICAL STORM PILAR DISCUSSION NUMBER 9  
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP192023  
400 PM CDT MON OCT 30 2023  
 
PILAR SEEMS TO HAVE HELD SOMEWHAT STEADY THIS AFTERNOON. 1-MINUTE  
GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE VISIBLE IMAGERY SHOWS THE LOW-LEVEL  
CIRCULATION BEGINNING TO BE EXPOSED JUST EAST OF THE DEEP CONVECTION  
AS THE CENTRAL DEEP OVERCAST GRADUALLY CLEARS. RECENT MICROWAVE  
IMAGERY REVEALED A DECENT CURVED BAND WRAPPING AROUND THE WESTERN  
AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CORE. SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE  
SATELLITE INTENSITY ESTIMATES RANGE FROM 39-51 KT AND THE INITIAL  
INTENSITY IS HELD AT 45 KT, CLOSEST TO THE SAB T3.0/45 KT VALUE.  
 
THE STORM CONTINUES TO MOVE SLOWLY EAST-NORTHEASTWARD. MODELS  
GENERALLY AGREE ON THIS MOTION, WHICH SHOULD CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT  
DAY OR SO. BY TUESDAY EVENING, PILAR IS FORECAST TO STALL NEAR THE  
COAST OF EL SALVADOR WITH THE CORE OF THE STORM OFFSHORE. BY  
WEDNESDAY THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO TURN WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD, AWAY  
FROM THE COASTLINE, IN THE FLOW OF A BUILDING RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN  
CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA. THE LATEST NHC TRACK FORECAST IS  
SHIFTED SLIGHTLY NORTH OF THE PREVIOUS PREDICTION, LARGELY DUE TO  
THE NORTHWARD SHIFT IN THE INITIAL POSITION.  
 
MODERATE EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY SHEAR APPEARS TO BE AFFECTING PILAR.  
HOWEVER, MOST OF THE MODEL GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT THE STORM SHOULD  
STEADILY STRENGTHEN FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO OVER THE WARM WATERS AND  
IN A MOIST AIRMASS. AFTER 36 H, THE DEEP-LAYER SHEAR SHOULD  
INCREASE WHICH WILL LIKELY INDUCE A WEAKENING TREND. BY DAYS 3-5,  
THE SHEAR IS EXPECTED TO ABATE SOMEWHAT. ONCE AGAIN, THE LONG-RANGE  
OFFICIAL INTENSITY FORECAST HAS BEEN INCREASED SLIGHTLY AND IS CLOSE  
TO THE VARIOUS CONSENSUS AIDS.  
 
 
KEY MESSAGES:  
 
1. HEAVY RAINS FROM PILAR WILL PRODUCE FLASH AND URBAN FLOODING,  
ALONG WITH MUDSLIDES IN AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN, NEAR THE PACIFIC  
COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA FROM EL SALVADOR SOUTHWARD TO COSTA RICA  
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.  
 
2. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE BEGINNING EARLY TUESDAY  
ALONG PORTIONS OF THE PACIFIC COAST OF EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, AND  
NICARAGUA, WHERE A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. INTERESTS  
ELSEWHERE ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST OF GUATEMALA, AND NICARAGUA SHOULD  
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM AS ADDITIONAL WATCHES OR  
WARNINGS COULD BE NEEDED LATER TONIGHT.  
 
3. SWELLS GENERATED BY PILAR WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE PACIFIC  
COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THESE SWELLS ARE  
LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS.  
 
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS  
 
INIT 30/2100Z 11.4N 91.2W 45 KT 50 MPH  
12H 31/0600Z 11.6N 90.2W 50 KT 60 MPH  
24H 31/1800Z 11.9N 89.5W 55 KT 65 MPH  
36H 01/0600Z 12.3N 89.4W 60 KT 70 MPH  
48H 01/1800Z 12.2N 89.9W 55 KT 65 MPH  
60H 02/0600Z 11.8N 91.3W 50 KT 60 MPH  
72H 02/1800Z 11.2N 93.7W 45 KT 50 MPH  
96H 03/1800Z 10.1N 98.8W 45 KT 50 MPH  
120H 04/1800Z 9.9N 104.3W 45 KT 50 MPH  
 

 
FORECASTER BUCCI  
 
 
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.

The Nexlab TPC Page Main Text Page