Since yesterday's Storm Scoop, the heavy press has been the eventual transition into a hurricane. Here is the deal with Gordon...
When this storm hits the coast, we are looking at a system that will likely be around 1003mb, in terms of tropical systems (or any system) this is pretty minute. Above you will see a satellite comparison of Gordon and Florence last night, you can see the vast difference in formation. In fact, at one point yesterday Gordon had two centers of circulation, not something that is indicative of a storm that has itself put together.
Bottom Line: I still like with what we went with yesterday, this is a Tropical Storm that may have gusts to hurricane force winds and maybe will dabble with Hurricane sustained winds for a very brief period of time. There is too much disorganization within this storm and frankly I am a little surprised how it is being pushed in the media.
When this storm hits the coast, we are looking at a system that will likely be around 1003mb, in terms of tropical systems (or any system) this is pretty minute. Above you will see a satellite comparison of Gordon and Florence last night, you can see the vast difference in formation. In fact, at one point yesterday Gordon had two centers of circulation, not something that is indicative of a storm that has itself put together.
Bottom Line: I still like with what we went with yesterday, this is a Tropical Storm that may have gusts to hurricane force winds and maybe will dabble with Hurricane sustained winds for a very brief period of time. There is too much disorganization within this storm and frankly I am a little surprised how it is being pushed in the media.

Finally finding higher values but remember they are flight level. Same idea as those early morning radar scans people posted well above the surface. They're unrepresentative of what you may find AT the surface.
Note 1: The winds are aloft not at the surface. Second Note: Where the winds are aloft there is no convection that could possibly tap and bring those winds to the surface. Note Three: The wind readings are therefore irrelevant until convection could develop within that quadrant to bring readings to the surface to affix to the storm intensity.
Note 1: The winds are aloft not at the surface. Second Note: Where the winds are aloft there is no convection that could possibly tap and bring those winds to the surface. Note Three: The wind readings are therefore irrelevant until convection could develop within that quadrant to bring readings to the surface to affix to the storm intensity.

The system continues to battle the dry stable air and our moisture envelope has pushed overhead and yet we still have problems. This appears to be due to the continued poor upper level environment which includes this feature to the south that is ruining the stream flow across the western and southern semi-circles of the cyclone. This is also keeping the low to mid level circulations open to the south west as they are tied into that upper level feature.