Ins pite of the initial predictions of Chris 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 Chris started to weaken . Despite initial predictions of Chris 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 Chris started to weaken .