Former Hurricane Howard weakened back to a tropical storm over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean west of Baja California on Tuesday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Howard was located at latitude 23.1°N and longitude 118.4°W which put it about 540 miles (870 km) west of the southern tip of Baja California. Howard was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Former Hurricane Howard moved over cooler water west of Baja California on Tuesday evening and weakened back to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Howard was moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24˚C. Howard was unable to extract as much energy from the cooler water and thunderstorms around the tropical storm diminished. The strongest remaining thunderstorms were in the remnants of the northern eyewall. The rest of the former eyewall and the rainbands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Howard consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Howard.

Tropical Storm Howard will move through an environment unfavorable for a tropical cyclone during the next several days. Howard will continue to move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little the wind shear. The cooler water will cause Tropical Storm Howard to continue to weaken even though there will be little vertical wind shear.

Hurricane Howard will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over northern Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Howard toward the west-northwest during the next several days. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Howard will move farther way from Baja California.

Tropical Storm Howard strengthened over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Monday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Howard was located at latitude 20.1°N and longitude 113.4°W which put it about 295 miles (475 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Howard was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

Tropical Storm Howard exhibited much more organization on Monday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Howard. An eye appeared to be forming at the center of circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Howard. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The strongest winds were occurring in the inner end of the rainband that wrapped around the developing eye. Winds to tropical storm force extend out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Howard.

Tropical Storm Howard will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Howard will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little the wind shear. Tropical Storm Howard will continue to intensify during the next 24 hours and it is likely to strengthen to a hurricane. Howard could intensify more rapidly after the eye and eyewall are fully formed.

Tropical Storm Howard will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over northern Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Howard toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Howard will move parallel to the coast of southern Baja California. The center of Howard will remain about 300 miles (480 km) southwest of southern Baja California.

Tropical Storm Howard formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Sunday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Howard was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 110.7°W which put it about 370 miles (595 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California. Howard was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1004 mb.

The circulation around former Tropical Depression Nine-E strengthened on Sunday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Howard. The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Howard was asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern side of Howard’s circulation. Bands in the southern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. A small upper level low located southwest of Howard was causing southerly winds that were blowing toward the top of the tropical storm. Those winds were causing vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear was allowing drier air to flow into the southern half of Tropical Storm Howard. The vertical wind shear and the drier air were causing the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms. Storms near the center of Howard’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the north and east of the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles in the northern side of Tropical Storm Howard. The winds in the southern half of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Howard will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Howard will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27˚C. The small upper level low southwest of Howard’s circulation is forecast to weaken. If the upper level low weakens, then the wind shear will decrease. If the wind shear decreases, then less drier air will flow into the southern part of the circulation. Tropical Storm Howard is forecast to strengthen during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Howard will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over northern Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Howard toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Howard is forecast to move parallel to the coast of southern Baja California. The center of Howard will remain 300 miles (480 km) west of southern Baja California during the next 24 hours.