Tropical Cyclone Discussion
581 WTNT41 KNHC 220233 TCDAT1 Tropical Storm Fay Discussion Number 11 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062026 300 AM GMT Tue Sep 22 2026 Fay is feeling the effects of strong west-northwesterly wind shear tonight. Nearly all of the convection is displaced well to the east of the fully exposed low-level center, and low-level water vapor imagery shows dry air enveloping much of the system. Recent objective and subjective Dvorak intensity estimates have decreased over the past several hours and range from 25-38 kt. Based on the degraded satellite presentation and the downward trend in intensity estimates, the initial intensity is set at 35 kt for this advisory. The tropical storm is moving southwestward, or 215/07 kt, along the southeastern periphery of a weak mid-level ridge centered west of the system. A gradual turn toward the west-southwest and then west is expected over the next few days as the ridge strengthens and expands eastward across the central Atlantic. The official NHC track forecast is very similar to the previous advisory and remains close to the HCCA solution. Continued weakening is expected on Tuesday as dry mid-level air wraps around the periphery of Fay. In fact, simulated satellite imagery from the ECMWF and GFS suggests that Fay may struggle to maintain organized convection as early as Tuesday, and the system could become post-tropical by that time. However, the strong upper-level trough currently producing significant wind shear over the region is forecast to lift away from Fay over the next day or so, while the cyclone may move over slightly warmer waters in the coming days. These changes could briefly allow for some shallow convection to redevelop around midweek, although any such resurgence is expected to be short-lived. Given the overall unfavorable environment and anticipated weakening, the latest NHC forecast shows Fay becoming a post-tropical remnant low by Tuesday night. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 22/0300Z 32.3N 33.1W 35 KT 40 MPH 12H 22/1200Z 31.6N 34.1W 30 KT 35 MPH 24H 23/0000Z 30.7N 36.0W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 36H 23/1200Z 30.1N 37.8W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 48H 24/0000Z 29.7N 39.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 60H 24/1200Z 29.5N 41.2W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 72H 25/0000Z 29.5N 42.5W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 96H 26/0000Z 29.5N 44.3W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW 120H 27/0000Z...DISSIPATED