Former Hurricane Estelle weakened to a tropical storm over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Tuesday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Estelle was located at latitude 19.0°N and longitude 115.5°W which put it about 450 miles (725 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Estelle was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.

Drier air in the western half of former Hurricane Estelle reached the center of circulation on Tuesday morning and Estelle weakened to a tropical storm. The strongest winds in Tropical Storm Estelle were occurring in bands of thunderstorms in the eastern side of the circulation. Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. More thunderstorms developed again east of the center of Estelle later on Tuesday morning. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Estelle’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Estelle will move through an environment only marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Estelle will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 25˚C. It will move under an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean west of Mexico. The upper level winds are weak in the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, the drier air in the western half of Tropical Storm Estelle is likely to continue to inhibit the formation of thunderstorms in that part of the circulation. Estelle could intensify during the next 24 hours, if thunderstorms continue to develop near the center of circulation. However, the drier air is likely to limit any intensification. Tropical Storm Estelle will move over cooler water during the next several days, which is likely to cause it to weaken.

Tropical Storm Estelle will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Estelle toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Estelle will move farther to the southwest of Baja California.