Josephine continued to intensify throughout the afternoon as the storm became more symmetrical . However , due to the location of the storm , it was a lack of accurate wind speed readings , and the National Hurricane Center was uncertain of its actual intensity . Despite the lack of wind shear around the storm , the center became slightly exposed and ceased further intensification . The storm was also heading into an area where shear was forecasted to significantly increase due to an upper @-@ level trough diving southward . Despite convection being partially removed from the center of Josephine , the storm intensified slightly in the early morning hours on September 3 as thunderstorm activity to the south of the center became more organized . The intensification was forecast to be short in duration as the trough to the north was deepening , causing the wind shear to the west to become stronger .