Tropical Storm Cristina was meandering over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean just to the west of northwestern Nicaragua on Tuesday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Cristina was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 87.8°W which put the center about 110 miles (175 km) west-northwest of Managua, Nicaragua. Cristina was moving toward the west-northwest at 1 m.p.h. (2 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 1006 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Pacific coast of Honduras. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the entire coast of El Salvador.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Cristina exhibited more organization on Tuesday afternoon. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Cristina’s circulation. New thunderstorms also developed in bands in the western and southern parts of Tropical Storm Cristina. Bands in the eastern and northern sections of Cristina’s circulation still consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Cristina generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm. The removal of mass in the upper levels of the atmosphere was nearly equal to the convergence of mass in the lower levels. So, the surface pressure did not change much.
The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Cristina was asymmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the southern half of Cristina’s circulation. The winds in the northern half of Tropical Storm Cristina were blowing at less than tropical storm force.
Tropical Storm Cristina will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Cristina will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the western side of an upper level low that is over the Southwestern Caribbean Sea. The upper level low will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Cristina’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. The vertical wind shear is forecast to be a little less on Wednesday. Tropical Storm Cristina could intensify slowly during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Cristina will move around the western part of a high pressure system that is over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. The high pressure system will steer Cristina toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Cristina will approach the coast of El Salvador on Wednesday evening.
Tropical Storm Cristina will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the coast of northwestern Nicaragua, the Pacific coast of Honduras, and the coast of El Salvador. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.
Elsewhere, Tropical Depression Boris continued to weaken as it move inland over southern Mexico. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Boris was located at latitude 16.9°N and longitude 98.9°W which put the center about 65 miles (105 km) east of Acapulco, Mexico. Boris was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.