Tropical Storm Odalys formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Saturday night. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Odalys was located at latitude 11.4°N and longitude 124.5°W which put the center about 1245 miles (2005 km) southwest of the the southern tip of Baja California. Odalys was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 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.
A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California strengthened on Saturday night and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Odalys.
More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Storm Odalys on Saturday night. Thunderstorms were also developing in bands in the southern and western parts of Odalys’ circulation. Bands in the northern and eastern parts of Tropical Storm Odlays consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Odalys started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the tropical storm.
The strongest winds were occurring in the northern side of Tropical Storm Odalys. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 km) in the northern side of Odalys’ circulation. The winds in the southern half of Tropical Storm Odalys were blowing at less than tropical storm force.
Tropical Storm Odalys will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Odalys will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level low that is southwest of Baja California. The upper level low will produce northerly winds that will blow toward the top of Odalys’ circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification but the wind shear will probably not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Odalys is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours. Odalys could strengthen to a hurricane early next week.
Tropical Storm Odalys will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is west of Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Odalys toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Odalys will remain far to the southwest of Baja California.