Tropical Storm Mario strengthened during Sunday night as it moved over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Mario was located at latitude 19.4°N and longitude 112.3°W which put the center about 285 miles (460 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Mario was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

Tropical Storm Mario strengthened during Sunday night.  The distribution of thunderstorms in Mario became more symmetrical.  Thunderstorms continued to develop near the center of Mario’s circulation.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Mario.  Storms near the center of Mario generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

Even though Tropical Storm Mario strengthened, the size of Mario’s circulation remained small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Mario.

Tropical Storm Mario will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Mario will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C.  It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level trough  that is near the west coast of the U.S.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Mario’s circulation.  Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase.  The combination of more vertical wind shear and cooler Sea Surface Temperatures will cause Tropical Storm Mario to start to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Mario will move around the around the southern part of a high pressure system over the southwest U.S. and northwest Mexico.  The high pressure system will steer Mario toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Mario will remain southwest of Baja California.