Tropical Storm Max Forms Near Southwest Mexico

Tropical Storm Max formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean near the coast of southwest Mexico on Sunday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Max was located at latitude 16.3°N and longitude 101.9°W which put it about 100 miles (160 km) south-southwest of Zihuantenajo, Mexico. Max was moving toward the north-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 1001 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Acapulco to Punta San Telmo, Mexico.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean near the southwest coast of Mexico strengthened during Sunday evening and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Max. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Storm Max on Sunday evening. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Max’s circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Wind to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Max.

Tropical Storm Max will move around the western side of a high pressure system over the Caribbean Sea and Mexico. The high pressure system will steer max toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Max will make landfall on the coast of Mexico west of Zihuatenajo on Monday evening.

Tropical Storm Max will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Max will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°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 Max’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Max is likely to intensify before it makes landfall in Mexico.

Tropical Storm Max will bring gusty winds to the coast of southwest Mexico. Max will also drop heavy rain of parts of Guerrero and Michoacan. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Lidia continued to meander south of Baja California. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Lidia was located at latitude 18.2°N and longitude 112.6°W which put it about 370 miles (595 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Lidia was moving toward the north at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Tropical Storm Lidia is forecast to start to move toward the northeast on Monday and to strengthen to a hurricane. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Las Islas Marias and the portion of the coast from Playa Perula to Mazatlan, Mexico. Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for the portions of the coast from Manzanillo to Playa Perula and from Bahia Tempehuaya to Mazatlan, Mexico.