Tropical Storm Pilar moved toward the west and weakened on Wednesday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Pilar was located at latitude 12.4°N and longitude 92.6°W which put it about 315 miles (505 km) southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. Pilar was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

Tropical Storm Pilar weakened on Wednesday. Many of the thunderstorms in Pilar’s circulation dissipated during the day. There were still a few thunderstorms in a band just west of the center of Tropical Storm Pilar. Bands in the other parts of Pilar’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Pilar.

A large surface high pressure system over the eastern U.S. extended across the Gulf of Mexico to eastern Mexico. The high pressure system produced brisk northeasterly winds that transported cool dry air over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The circulation around the western side of Tropical Storm Pilar appeared to pull some of the cool dry air into the tropical storm. The drier air reduced the relative humidity which caused the thunderstorms in Pilar to dissipate.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move through an environment that will be unfavorable 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. The surface high pressure system will continue to produce northeasterly winds in the lower levels. Easterly winds in the upper levels and northeasterly winds in the lower levels will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. In addition, the high pressure system will continue to pump cool dry air over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The effects of the cool dry air and the moderate vertical wind shear will cause Tropical Storm Pilar to continue to weaken on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move around the southern part of the surface high pressure system. The high pressure system will steer Pilar toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Pilar will remain south of Mexico on Thursday.