Tropical Storm Pilar stalled southwest of El Salvador on Tuesday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Pilar was located at latitude 11.9°N and longitude 89.4°W which put it about 125 miles (200 km) south of San Salvador, El Salvador. Pilar was moving toward the north at 2 m.p.h. (3 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 994 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the entire coast of El Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the Pacific coast of Honduras including the Gulf of Fonseca. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras.

Tropical Storm Pilar intensified a little more on Tuesday. Even though the wind speed increased, the distribution of thunderstorms in Pilar remained asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northwestern part of Pilar’s circulation. There were also thunderstorms in the northeastern part of Tropical Storm Pilar. Bands in the southern half of Pilar’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Pilar.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move through an environment that will be marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Pilar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Pilar’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. If the wind shear increases, it could cause Tropical Storm Pilar to weaken a little on Wednesday. Otherwise, Pilar could maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours.

A large high pressure system over the eastern U.S. extends across the Gulf of Mexico to eastern Mexico. The high pressure system will start to steer Tropical Storm Pilar back toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Pilar will start to move farther away from El Salvador on Wednesday. Bands in the eastern part of Tropical Storm Pilar could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the coast of El Salvador, southwestern Honduras and northwestern Nicaragua. Prolonged, heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Pilar edged closer to El Salvador on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Pilar was located at latitude 11.3°N and longitude 90.9°W which put it about 200 miles (325 km) southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador. Pilar was moving toward the east-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the entire coast of El Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the Pacific coast of Honduras including the Gulf of Fonseca. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras.

Tropical Storm Pilar intensified a little on Monday, but the circulation was still poorly organized. Thunderstorms weakened near the center of Pilar’s circulation. New thunderstorms were forming in bands in the northeastern part of Tropical Storm Pilar. Bands in the other parts of Pilar consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Pilar.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move through an environment that will be a little more favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Pilar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under a small upper level ridge west of Nicaragua. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the upper level ridge. So, there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Pilar is likely to intensify gradually during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move into a region where the steering currents are weak during the next 24 hours. Pilar is likely to continue to move slowly toward the east-northeast on Tuesday. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Pilar will move closer to El Salvador. Pilar could approach El Salvador on Tuesday night. Tropical Storm Pilar is forecast to stall for 12 to 24 hours, when it gets near El Salvador. Pilar could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the coast of El Salvador, western Honduras and northwestern Nicaragua. Prolonged, heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Former Tropical Depression Nineteen-E strengthened to Tropical Storm Pilar on Sunday evening. Tropical Storm Watches were issued for the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Pilar was located at latitude 11.0°N and longitude 92.0°W which put it about 265 miles (425 km) southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador. Pilar was moving toward the east-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 1003 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the entire coast of El Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the Pacific coast of Honduras including the Gulf of Fonseca. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras.

Former Tropical Depression Nineteen-E intensified to Tropical Storm Pilar over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of El Salvador on Sunday evening. More thunderstorms continued to form near the center of Pilar’s circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated stronger upper level divergence that pumped more mass away from the tropical storm. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Pilar.

Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the western side of Tropical Storm Pilar. The winds in the eastern side of Pilar’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Pilar will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Pilar 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 over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. The upper level low will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Pilar’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear and the wind shear will inhibit intensification. However, the wind shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Pilar is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

The upper level trough over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea will steer Tropical Storm Pilar slowly toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Pilar could approach El Salvador on Tuesday. Pilar is forecast to stall when it gets near El Salvador. Tropical Storm Pilar could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the coast of El Salvador, western Honduras and northwestern Nicaragua. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.