Tropical Storm Felicia formed south of Baja California on Wednesday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Felicia was located at latitude 14.3°N and longitude 114.1°W which put it about 655 miles (1055 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Felicia was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 1002 mb.

More thunderstorms formed near the center of a low pressure system south of Baja California on Wednesday morning and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Felicia. Thunderstorms were also forming in bands in the western half of Felicia’s circulation. Bands in the eastern half of the tropical storm consisted mainly of the showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Felicia generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Felicia will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Felicia will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Felicia will continue to intensify and it could strengthen to a hurricane on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Felicia will move south of a subtropical high pressure system during the next few days. The high will steer Felicia toward the west. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Felicia will move farther away from Baja California.