Tropical Storm Ignacio Develops Southwest of Baja California

Tropical Storm Ignacio developed southwest of Baja California on Monday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Ignacio was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 114.0°W which put it about 415 miles (665 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Ignacio was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

The circulation around former Tropical Depression Ten-E strengthened on Monday morning and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Ignacio. The circulation around Ignacio was asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of tropical storm Ignacio. Bands in the eastern side of Ignacio consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms west of the center of circulation generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm. Even though the stronger thunderstorms were on the western side of Tropical Storm Ignacio, the strongest winds were occurring in the northeastern quadrant of the circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Ignacio. Winds in the other parts of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Ignacio will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ignacio will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C. It will move under the southwestern part of a strong upper level ridge centered over Baja California. The ridge will produce strong easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ignacio’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear and they were the cause of the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms. The wind shear will limit intensification. Tropical Storm Ignacio could get a little stronger during the next 24 hours. Ignacio will move over cooler water on Tuesday and it is likely to weaken.

Tropical Storm Ignacio will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high will steer Ignacio toward the west-northwest during the next several days. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Ignacio will remain far to the west of Baja California.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Hilda was located west of Tropical Storm Ignacio. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Hilda was located at latitude 15.4°N and longitude 122.6°W which put it about 975 miles (1570 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Hilda was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.