Tropical Storm Lidia formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico on Tuesday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Lidia was located at latitude 11.°N and longitude 107.0°W which put it about 790 miles (1270 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Lidia was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico strengthened on Tuesday morning and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Lidia. The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Lidia was asymmetrical. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in a bands in the western part of Lidia’s circulation. Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Lidia consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms in the bands in the western part of Lidia started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm. Wind to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the western side of Lidia’s circulation. The winds in the eastern part of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Lidia will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Lidia will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move over the southern part of an upper level ridge that extends from Mexico to the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Lidia’s circulation. Those winds are contributing to the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms and they will continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear may not be enough to stop Lidia from strengthening. Tropical Storm Lidia could intensify gradually during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Lidia will move around the western part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Lidia toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Lidia will move farther away from the west coast of Mexico.