Tropical Storm Pilar stalled southwest of El Salvador on Tuesday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Pilar was located at latitude 11.9°N and longitude 89.4°W which put it about 125 miles (200 km) south of San Salvador, El Salvador. Pilar was moving toward the north at 2 m.p.h. (3 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the entire coast of El Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the Pacific coast of Honduras including the Gulf of Fonseca. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras.

Tropical Storm Pilar intensified a little more on Tuesday. Even though the wind speed increased, the distribution of thunderstorms in Pilar remained asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northwestern part of Pilar’s circulation. There were also thunderstorms in the northeastern part of Tropical Storm Pilar. Bands in the southern half of Pilar’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Pilar.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move through an environment that will be marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Pilar 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 over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Pilar’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. If the wind shear increases, it could cause Tropical Storm Pilar to weaken a little on Wednesday. Otherwise, Pilar could maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours.

A large high pressure system over the eastern U.S. extends across the Gulf of Mexico to eastern Mexico. The high pressure system will start to steer Tropical Storm Pilar back toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Pilar will start to move farther away from El Salvador on Wednesday. Bands in the eastern part of Tropical Storm Pilar could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the coast of El Salvador, southwestern Honduras and northwestern Nicaragua. Prolonged, heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.