Tropical Storm Beatriz Moves Along West Coast of Mexico

Tropical Storm Beatriz was moving along the west coast of Mexico on Saturday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Beatriz was located at latitude 19.8°N and longitude 105.4°W which put it about 45 miles (75 km) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Beatriz was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Manzanillo to Punta Mita, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Mita to San Blas, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was also in effect for Las Islas Marias.

The center of former Hurricane Beatriz made a landfall near Punta San Telmo, Mexico during Friday night. When the center of Beatriz made landfall, it significantly disrupted the inner core of Beatriz’ circulation. The disruption of the inner core caused Beatriz to weaken to a tropical storm. The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Beatriz became asymmetrical after if made landfall. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Beatriz’ circulation. Bands in the eastern part of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Beatriz.

Former Hurricane Beatriz brought gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the west coast of Mexico from Punta San Telmo to Cabo Corrientes during Friday night. The heaviest rain fell along the coast in Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.

Tropical Storm Beatriz will move through an environment that will be only marginally favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Beatriz will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over northern Mexico. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Beatriz’ circulation. Those winds will cause the wind shear to increase. Since Tropical Storm Beatriz is near the west coast of Mexico, it’s circulation will pull drier air into the eastern and northern parts of Beatriz. The drier air will inhibit the formation of thunderstorms in those parts of the circulation. Since the inner core of Tropical Storm Beatriz was disrupted when it moved over the coast, Beatriz is likely to continue to weaken during the next 36 hours.

The upper level ridge over northern Mexico will steer Tropical Storm Beatriz toward the northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Beatriz will gradually move away from the west coast of Mexico. The gusty winds and locally heavy rain in Jalisco will gradually diminish on Saturday. Beatriz could move southeast of Baja California on Sunday.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Adrian weakened south of Baja California. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Adrian 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. Adrian was moving toward the west-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 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.