Tropical Storm Carlotta formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico on Wednesday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Carlotta was located at latitude 16.2°N and longitude 108.0°W which put the center about 310 miles (500 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Carlotta was moving toward the northwest 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 1003 mb.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico strengthened on Wednesday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Carlotta.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Carlotta exhibited much more organization on Wednesday afternoon.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Carlotta’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Carlotta began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Carlotta.

Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Carlotta.

Tropical Storm Carlotta will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours.  Carlotta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Carlotta will intensify during the next 36 hours.  Carlotta could strengthen to a hurricane on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Carlotta will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Southwest U.S. and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Carlotta toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Carlotta will remain far south of Baja California.