Tropical Storm Paine Spins Southwest of Baja California

Tropical Storm Paine was spinning over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Tuesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Paine was located at latitude 18.1°N and longitude 114.0°W which put it about 425 miles (685 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Paine was moving toward the northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 1004 mb.

Tropical Storm Paine seemed to be starting to weaken on Tuesday night. Many of the thunderstorms in Paine had dissipated. The bands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Paine consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Paine appeared to be moving into a mass of drier air on Tuesday night. The drier air caused thunderstorms in Paine to collapse. Tropical Storm Paine will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next several days. Paine will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. However, an upper level trough west of Baja California will produce southwestern winds that will blow toward the top of Paine’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. A combination of drier air and moderate vertical wind shear is likely to cause Tropical Storm Paine to weaken steadily during the next several days.

Tropical Storm Paine will move south of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Paine toward the west during the next several days. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Paine will move farther away from Baja California.