Hurricane Ophelia Discussion Number  27
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL172017
500 PM AST Sun Oct 15 2017

Ophelia's cloud structure is declining rapidly, and microwave and
shortwave IR imagery indicate that the low-level and mid-level
centers are becoming separated.  However, some deep convection is
still present near Ophelia's center, and an SSMIS pass from 1827 UTC
indicated that the hurricane still has an inner core that is
separated from a front to the north and west.  The estimated maximum
winds have been decreased slightly to 75 kt given the overall decay
of the cloud structure.  However, the cyclone's favorable position
relative to an upper-level jet streak is likely contributing to
deepening of the low as the wind field expands substantially.  Only
a slight decrease in the maximum winds is therefore expected before
the post-tropical cyclone reaches Ireland.  After that time,
interaction with land while the cyclone occludes should cause it to
weaken more rapidly.  Around 48 h, the cyclone's circulation is
likely to become ill-defined and dissipate near the western coast of
Scandinavia.