Tropical Storm Narda Forms South of Mexico

Tropical Storm Narda formed south of Mexico late on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Narda was located at latitude 15.4°N and longitude 100.6°W which put it about 115 miles south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico.  Narda was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (15 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Acapulco to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.

An area of low pressure exhibited more organization late on Saturday and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Narda.  A low level center of circulation formed within the area of low pressure.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms developed and began to revolve around the center of circulation.  Many of the stronger thunderstorms were in bands in the western half of the circulation.  Bands in the eastern half of the circulation contained more showers and lower clouds.  An area of winds to tropical storm force was occurring about 120 miles (195 km) southeast of the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Narda will move through an environment only marginally favorable for intensification on Sunday.  Narda will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  However, an upper level ridge over Mexico will produce northeasterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear which will inhibit intensification.  In addition, the circulation could draw drier air into the northern portion of the tropical storm.  Tropical Storm Narda is not likely to strengthen much during the next 12 to 24 hours.

The ridge over Mexico will steer Tropical Storm Narda toward the northwest during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Narda will approach the coast of Mexico near Lazaro Cardenas in about 12 hours.  Narda will move along the coast toward Cabo Corrientes.  Tropical Storm Narda could drop locally heavy rain in parts of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.  The rain could cause flash floods in some locations.