588 
 WTNT42 KNHC 291426
 TCDAT2
 TROPICAL STORM GASTON DISCUSSION NUMBER   8
 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
 11 AM EDT SUN AUG 29 2004
  
 GASTON MADE LANDFALL JUST WEST OF MCCLELLANVILLE SOUTH CAROLINA
 AROUND 14Z.  WSR-88D VELOCITY DATA INDICATED THAT IT WAS JUST BELOW
 HURRICANE STRENGTH AT LANDFALL.  THE SYSTEM WOULD VERY LIKELY HAVE
 BECOME A HURRICANE IF IT HAD A FEW MORE HOURS OVER WATER.  THE
 STORM SHOULD STEADILY WEAKEN NOW THAT THE CENTER IS INLAND...BUT IT
 STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND AN
 ISOLATED TORNADO.
  
 INITIAL MOTION IS NORTH AT 7 KT.  A GRADUAL BEND TO THE RIGHT...WITH
 ACCELERATION...IS FORECAST AS GASTON BECOMES INFLUENCED BY THE FLOW
 TO THE SOUTHEAST OF A MID-TROPOSPHERIC TROUGH IN THE VICINITY OF
 THE GREAT LAKES.  BY 72 HOURS GASTON SHOULD HAVE LOST TROPICAL
 CHARACTERISTICS...AND IT IS EXPECTED BE ABSORBED BY A FRONTAL
 SYSTEM SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
  
 FORECASTER PASCH
  
 FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
  
 INITIAL      29/1500Z 33.2N  79.5W    50 KT
  12HR VT     30/0000Z 34.3N  79.5W    40 KT...INLAND
  24HR VT     30/1200Z 35.9N  78.8W    30 KT...INLAND
  36HR VT     31/0000Z 37.7N  77.2W    30 KT...INLAND
  48HR VT     31/1200Z 39.8N  74.0W    30 KT...OVER WATER
  72HR VT     01/1200Z 44.5N  64.0W    30 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
  96HR VT     02/1200Z...ABSORBED INTO FRONTAL SYSTEM
  
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