Tropical Storm Kenneth strengthened a little over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Kenneth was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 124.2°W which put it about 1055 miles (1700 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kenneth was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

Tropical Storm Kenneth got a little stronger on Wednesday, but the distribution of thunderstorms around was still asymmetrical. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of Kenneth’s circulation. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in that rainband. Bands in the eastern half of Tropical Storm Kenneth consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the northern side of Kenneth’s circulation. The winds in the southern part of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Kenneth will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. An upper level trough east of Hawaii will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kenneth’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Tropical Storm Kenneth will start to weaken when the vertical wind shear increases.

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 north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kenneth will stay far away from Baja California and Hawaii.