Tropical Storm Kenneth formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Tuesday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Kenneth was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 121.0°W which put it about 900 miles (1450 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kenneth was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 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.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California strengthened on Tuesday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Kenneth. The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Kenneth was very asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in a couple of bands in the northwestern part of Kenneth’s circulation. Bands in the other parts of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force were also occurring in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Storm Kenneth. The winds in the other parts of Kenneth’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Kenneth will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kenneth’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Kenneth could intensify on Wednesday, if the vertical wind shear is not too strong. An upper level trough east of Hawaii will produce southwesterly winds that will affect Kenneth later this week. The southwesterly winds will cause more vertical wind shear and the wind shear will cause Tropical Storm Kenneth to weaken.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Kenneth toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kenneth will move farther away from Baja California.