WTPA41 PHFO 311438



TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-C DISCUSSION NUMBER   3

NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI   CP092015

500 AM HST THU DEC 31 2015



TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-C...THE SIXTEENTH TROPICAL CYCLONE OF

2015 IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC BASIN...CONTINUES TO PROVIDE MANY

CHALLENGES EARLY THIS MORNING. THE PRIMARY PROBLEM REMAINS THE

LOCATION OF THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER /LLCC/ OF THE

DEPRESSION. NIGHTTIME INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY FROM THE HIMAWARI

SATELLITE HAS BEEN USEFUL IN MONITORING THE SHORT-TERM CHANGES IN

THE EXTENSIVE CONVECTIVE CLOUD TOPS NEAR THE APPARENT LLCC.

HOWEVER...EVEN WITH 10-MINUTE INTERVAL HIGH-RESOLUTION SATELLITE

IMAGERY...THE CIRRUS CANOPY OVER THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO OBSCURE

MOST OF THE LOWER-LEVEL CUMULUS AND TOWERING CUMULUS CLOUDS THAT=