Tropical Storm Elida was spinning over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Thursday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Elida was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 117.4°E which put the center about 695 miles (1120 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Elida was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

Tropical Storm Elida intensified gradually on Friday as it spun west of Baja California.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center of Elida’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Elida generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The strongest winds were blowing in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Elida.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) in the eastern half of Elida’s circulation.  The winds in the western half of Tropical Storm Elida were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Elida will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Elida will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Elida will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Elida is likely to strengthen to a hurricane on Friday.

Tropical Storm Elida will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Elida toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Elida will remain far to the southwest of Baja California.