Tropical Storm Bud formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Bud was located at latitude 17.1°N and longitude 112.2°W which put the center about 425 miles (690 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Bud was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 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 1007 mb.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California strengthened on Wednesday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Bud.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Bud’s circulation on Wednesday afternoon.  Those thunderstorms generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm.  Thunderstorms also formed in bands in the southern and western parts of Tropical Storm Bud.  Bands in the eastern and northern parts of Bud’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the southern half of Tropical Storm Bud.  The winds in the northern half of Bud’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Bud will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Bud will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Southwest U.S. and northern Mexico.  The ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Bud’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit intensification but the shear may not be enough to prevent some strengthening.  Tropical Storm Bud could intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Bud will move around the southern side of the subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bud toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Bud will move farther away from Baja California.