Despite initial predictions of PERSON@1 intensifying to a hurricane as a ridge of high pressure forced it west-northwestward , upper level shear dissipated the well-defined inner core of the storm , and PERSON@1 started to weaken .

Ins pite of the initial predictions of PERSON@1 intensifying to a hurricane as a ridge of high pressure forced it west-northwestward , upper level shear dissipated the well-defined inner core of the storm , and PERSON@1 started to weaken .
