Former Tropical Storm Carlotta intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Friday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Carlotta was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 115.2°W which put the center about 455 miles (730 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Carlotta was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Carlotta strengthened to a hurricane on Friday morning.  A small circular eye formed at the center of Carlotta’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Carlotta.  Storms near the center of Carlotta’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Carlotta was small.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of Carlotta’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Hurricane Carlotta.

Hurricane Carlotta will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Carlotta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move near 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.  Hurricane Carlotta will continue to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane 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 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Carlotta will move farther away from Baja California.