Tropical Cyclone Discussion

496
WTPA42 PHFO 260236
TCDCP2
 
Tropical Storm Lala Discussion Number  55
NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI   CP012026
Issued by NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
500 PM HST Tue Aug 25 2026
 
Lala continues to exhibit a symmetric convective structure as it 
moves over cooler waters. An ASCAT pass from around 2200 UTC 
captured much of Lala’s inner core and revealed max winds at around 
40 kt. Objective Dvorak estimates range from 45-55 kt, while 
subjective Dvorak estimates from JTWC and HFO reflect a weakening 
trend with a 2.0/2.5 and 2.5/3.0, respectively. Given the quality of 
the ASCAT pass, the initial intensity was held steady at 45 kt. 
 
The motion of the cyclone remains slow as it approaches the 
International Dateline. The initial motion was estimated at 295/5 
kt. Lala continues to be guided to the west-northwest by a high 
pressure ridge centered over the central Pacific, just to the 
northeast of the storm. Global forecast models suggest that the 
ridge will remain stagnant over the next couple of days, which 
should keep Lala moving at a slow speed as it rounds the ridge’s 
westward flank. Eventually, Lala will gain forward speed as it moves 
away from the ridge’s influence and turns more northward. Little 
change was made to the track forecast from the previous advisory.
 
The storm is expected to move over continuously cooling waters 
before encountering a more hostile vertical wind shear environment 
over the next 24 hours. By Thursday, Lala is anticipated to become 
post-tropical, with simulated satellite imagery from the ECMWF 
suggesting that the storm will ultimately dissipate over the 
weekend. Lala’s dissipation time was moved up roughly 24 hours from 
the previous forecast, otherwise the overall intensity trend was 
generally left intact.  
 
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
 
INIT  26/0300Z 35.2N 177.6W   45 KT  50 MPH
 12H  26/1200Z 35.6N 178.2W   40 KT  45 MPH
 24H  27/0000Z 36.1N 178.7W   40 KT  45 MPH
 36H  27/1200Z 37.0N 179.4W   40 KT  45 MPH
 48H  28/0000Z 37.7N 179.9E   35 KT  40 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
 60H  28/1200Z 38.3N 179.0E   30 KT  35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
 72H  29/0000Z 39.0N 177.8E   25 KT  30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
 96H  30/0000Z 43.5N 175.0E   25 KT  30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
120H  31/0000Z...DISSIPATED