TXPQ27 KNES 020337
TCSWNP

A.  26W (BOPHA)

B.  02/0230Z

C.  6.4N

D.  136.8E

E.  ONE/MTSAT

F.  T6.5/7.5/W1.0/06HRS

G.  IR/EIR/VIS

H.  REMARKS...SATELLITE APPEARANCE OF BOPHA HAS DETERIORATED IN PAST
6 HOURS. EYE HAS BECOME CLOUD FILLED AND WARMED AND ALSO APPEARS TO
HAVE DECREASED IN DIAMETER. CENTRAL FEATURE CLOUD TOP TEMPERATURES
AROUND EYE REMAIN VERY COLD (CDG) ALTHOUGH WIDTH HAS DECREASED. THERE
IS A VERY TIGHT GRADIENT IN COLDEST CLOUD TOP TEMPERATURES IN WESTERN
SEMICIRCLE INDICATING POSSIBLE WESTERLY SHEAR. THIS HAS ALSO AFFECTED
DT DETERMINATION SINCE GRADIENT IS RIGHT AROUND .5 DEGREE EMBEDDED
DISTANCE. HAVE USED SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE OF B (.5 DEGREE) WITH B EYE
AND CDG RING TEMPERATURE FOR CF=5.5. WAS ABLE TO ADD .5 FOR BANDING WITH
WARM WEDGE WRAPPING AROUND WESTERN SEMICIRCLE TO GIVE DT=6.0. MET=6.5
BASED ON 24 HOUR DEVELOPMENT TREND AND PT AGREES. FT IS BASED ON MET.

I.  ADDL POSITIONS

    NIL


...RUMINSKI