Tropical Storm Gilma formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Sunday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Gilma was located at latitude 14.7°N and longitude 112.3°W which put the center about 585 miles (945 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Gilma was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1005 mb.

An area of low pressure over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California strengthened on Sunday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Gilma.  A well defined low level center of circulation was evident in visible satellite images.  However, the distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Gilma was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western side of Gilma’s circulation.  Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Gilma consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Gilma started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Gilma was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the northern side of Gilma’s circulation.  The winds in the southern side of Gilma were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Gilma will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Gilma 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 Eastern north Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Gilma’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm GIlma is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

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