Tropical Storm Lidia moved south of Baja California on Wednesday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Lidia was located at latitude 15.6°N and longitude 109.4°W which put it about 505 miles (815 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Lidia was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1001 mb.

Tropical Storm Lidia strengthened gradually over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Wednesday. Even though Tropical Storm Lidia was a little stronger, the distribution of thunderstorms continued to be 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. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Lidia’s circulation on Wednesday evening. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Lidia’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Lidia will move through an environment that will be a little more favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Lidia will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under 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 will weaken a little on Thursday and there will be a little less vertical vertical wind shear. The reduction of wind shear could allow Tropical Storm Lidia intensify a little faster 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 remain far to the south of Baja California on Thursday.