Tropical Storm Patricia reorganized and intensified quickly on Wednesday and the government of Mexico issued warnings for portions of its west coast.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Patricia was located at latitude 13.1°N and longitude 99.5°W, which put it about 265 miles (425 km) south of Acapulco, Mexico and about 515 miles (830 km) southeast of Manzanillo.  Patricia was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning for the portion of the coast from Cabo Corrientes to Punta San Telmo.  A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch has been issued for the portion of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Lazaro Cardenas.  A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the portion of the coast from Lazaro Cardenas to Tecpan de Galeana.

A NOAA aircraft investigated Tropical Storm Patricia on Wednesday and it found that the center of circulation had reorganized farther west of the remnants of the center that existed on Tuesday.  The new center was west of the northerly low level winds blowing out of the Gulf of Tehuantepec and it was in a more favorable environment.  Thunderstorms are developing near the center of circulation and multiple spiral bands are rotating around the center.

Patricia is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 31°C and there is a lot of energy in the upper ocean.  The upper level winds are light and there is not much vertical wind shear.  The lack of wind shear is allowing the thunderstorms near the center to pump out mass and the surface pressure is decreasing.  Patricia will remain a favorable environment until it approaches the west coast of Mexico later this week.  Rapid intensification is likely and Patricia could intensify into a major hurricane before it reaches the coast.

A ridge over the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico is steering Patricia toward the west and that motion is expected to continue for another day or so.  After that time Patricia will reach the western end of the ridge and it will turn toward the north.  On its anticipated track Patricia could be nearing the west coast of Mexico on Friday.