Tropical Storm Javier Moves West of Baja California

Tropical Storm Javier moved west of Baja California on Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Javier was located at latitude 26.0°N and longitude 116.1°W which put it about 140 miles (225 km) south-southwest of Punta Eugenia, Mexico. Javier was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto San Andresito to Punta Eugenia, Mexico.

Tropical Storm Javier started to weaken on Saturday afternoon when it moved over colder water west of Baja California. The center of Javier moved over water where over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 25˚C. Most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Javier weakened when it moved over colder water. The bands revolving around the center of Javier’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the northern half of Tropical Storm Javier. Winds in the southern half of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Javier will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next few days. Javier will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Even though there will be little vertical wind shear, Tropical Storm Javier will be unable to extract enough energy for the ocean to intensify. Javier is likely to weaken gradually during the next few days.

Since most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Javier weakened, Javier will be steered by the winds lower in the atmosphere. Javier will move south of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Javier toward the west during the next few days. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Javier will move farther away from Baja California.