Issued at 1100 PM AST Thu Aug 27 2026
000 WTNT44 KNHC 280244 TCDAT4 Tropical Storm Dolly Discussion Number 3 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL042026 1100 PM AST Thu Aug 27 2026 Dolly appears to be more or less maintaining its intensity at this time. However, the associated deep convection is not very well-organized, with no well-defined banding features evident on satellite images. The center of circulation is estimated to be on the north side of the main area of convection. The Dvorak intensity estimate from TAFB remains at 35 kt. There was a Metop-B scatterometer pass from just before 00Z which showed just a couple of 35-kt vectors. Therefore the advisory intensity is kept at 35 kt. The scatterometer pass did not completely capture the circulation of the storm but it did suggest some north-northeastward to south-southwestward elongation of the center. The storm continues to move quickly toward the west and the initial motion estimate is 280/20 kt, about the same as before. Dolly is forecast to move mainly westward at a fast forward speed for the next couple of days on the south side of a strong high pressure ridge over the central Atlantic. There have been no significant changes in the track guidance from earlier today. There is fairly good agreement amongst the various model tracks, and the official track forecast is roughly in the middle of these tracks. This is close to the latest Google DeepMind solution. Although it will encounter warmer ocean waters, Dolly is likely to move into less favorable atmospheric conditions during the next couple of days. Some slight short-term strengthening is possible, but increasing vertical wind shear, relatively dry air and the fast forward motion of the system should begin to adversely affect Dolly fairly soon. The global models show the system degenerating into a tropical wave while it approaches the Lesser Antilles, and the NHC intensity forecast is close to the model consensus. Post-tropical positions are provided at 48-60h given the risk of gusty winds and heavy rainfall. KEY MESSAGES: 1. Heavy rains from Dolly or its remnants could affect the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday with possible impacts in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola Sunday and Monday. This heavy rain may produce flash flooding, especially in areas of higher terrain of the Leeward Islands. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 28/0300Z 13.8N 42.3W 35 KT 40 MPH 12H 28/1200Z 14.3N 45.7W 40 KT 45 MPH 24H 29/0000Z 15.2N 50.2W 40 KT 45 MPH 36H 29/1200Z 16.0N 54.7W 40 KT 45 MPH 48H 30/0000Z 16.7N 59.0W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROPICAL 60H 30/1200Z 17.0N 63.0W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 72H 31/0000Z...DISSIPATED $$ Forecaster Pasch
