Tropical Storm Lidia meandered over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Lidia was located at latitude 16.2°N and longitude 112.2°W which put it about 485 miles (780 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Lidia was moving toward the west-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

Tropical Storm Lidia meandered slowly south of Baja California on Saturday. The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Lidia continued to be asymmetrical on Saturday. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in a bands in the southern and western parts of Lidia’s circulation. Bands in the northern and eastern parts of Tropical Storm Lidia consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Lidia’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Lidia’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Lidia will move through an environment that will be marginally 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 continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear is likely to inhibit intensification of Tropical Storm Lidia during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Lidia will be in an area where the steering currents are weak during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Lidia is likely to continue to meander the south of Baja California on Sunday. An upper level trough west of California will move closer to Lidia on Monday. The upper level trough is likely to steer Lidia toward the northeast early next week. Lidia could approach the west coast of Mexico by Tuesday. Tropical Storm Lidia could strengthen to a hurricane as it approaches the coast of Mexico.