Tropical Storm Bud strengthened over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Thursday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Bud was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 115.7°W which put the center about 490 miles (790 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Bud was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 1000 mb.
Tropical Storm Bud strengthened on Thursday. A weather station at Isla Clarion reported a sustained wind speed of 56 m.p.h. (91 km/h). Even though Tropical Storm Bud strengthened, the distribution of thunderstorms was asymmetrical. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and western parts of Bud’s circulation. Bands in the eastern and northern parts of Tropical Storm Bud consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms southwest of the center of Bud generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Bud was small. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Bud’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Bud will move through an environment that will be marginal for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bud will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level ridge over the Southwest U.S. and northern Mexico. The ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Bud’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. If the wind shear gets any stronger, Tropical Storm Bud will start to weaken. Bud will move over cooler water later on Friday.
Tropical Storm Bud will move around the southern side of the subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Bud toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Bud will move farther away from Baja California.