985
WTPA42 PHFO 251444
TCDCP2

Tropical Storm Lala Discussion Number  53
NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI   CP012026
Issued by NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
500 AM HST Tue Aug 25 2026

The satellite presentation of Lala remains about the same as it has
been for the last couple of days.  The cyclone continues to have
well-defined curved bands of shallow-to-moderate convection with
coldest cloud tops of -60 to -65 deg C.  Upper-level outflow is
strongest over the northern semicircle of the circulation.  Based
on an earlier scatterometer overpass with little change in
structure since that pass, the advisory intensity remains at 45 kt.

Latest center fixes show that the storm is moving slowly
west-northwestward with a motion estimate of around 300/5 kt.  The
primary steering feature at this time is a weak mid-tropospheric
ridge to the northeast of Lala.  The global models indicate that
the stronger higher-latitude southwesterly flow will continue to be
well-removed from the cyclone for the next few days.  Therefore the
system is likely to continue a slow forward motion for the next
72 hours or so.  The official track forecast is similar or very
slightly to the west of the one from the previous advisory.  This
is close to the latest corrected consensus, HCCA, solution.

Lala is forecast to traverse SSTs of about 23-24 deg C through
Thursday and remain within a relatively dry low- to mid-level air
mass.  These conditions should lead to slow weakening and gradually
diminishing deep convection.  It is likely that the system`s deep
convection will have decreased to the point that Lala will become a
post-tropical cyclone by around 60 hours, and this is reflected in
the latest NHC forecast.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  25/1500Z 34.9N 176.7W   45 KT  50 MPH
 12H  26/0000Z 35.2N 177.3E   40 KT  45 MPH
 24H  26/1200Z 35.6N 178.1W   40 KT  45 MPH
 36H  27/0000Z 36.3N 178.9W   40 KT  45 MPH
 48H  27/1200Z 37.0N 179.5W   35 KT  40 MPH
 60H  28/0000Z 37.7N 179.9E   35 KT  40 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
 72H  28/1200Z 38.5N 178.6E   30 KT  35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
 96H  29/1200Z 40.6N 176.4E   25 KT  30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
120H  30/1200Z 47.0N 176.0E   20 KT  25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW

$$
Forecaster Pasch