Tropical Storm Elida started to weaken on Saturday evening as it moved over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean west of Baja California. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Elida was located at latitude 20.6°N and longitude 124.8°W which put the center about 970 miles (1560 km) west of the southern tip of Baja California. Elida was moving toward the north-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 993 mb.
Tropical Storm Elida started to weaken on Saturday evening after Elida had strengthened almost to hurricane intensity earlier in the day. Tropical Storm Elida started to move over cooler Sea Surface Temperatures which is what caused Elida to weaken. The cooler Sea Surface Temperatures were already starting to affect the structure of Elida’s circulation. Bands in the northern side of Tropical Storm Elida consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the southern half of Elida’s circulation.
The distribution of winds speeds around Tropical Storm Elida continued to be asymmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the eastern side of Elida’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) in the western half of Tropical Storm Elida.
Tropical Storm Elida will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Elida will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24°C. It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level trough that is off the West Coast of the U.S. The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Elida’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. The combination of cooler Sea Surface Temperatures and more vertical wind shear will cause Tropical Storm Elida to weaken steadily on Sunday.
Tropical Storm Elida will move around the western part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Elida toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Elida will remain far to the west of Baja California.
Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression Six-E formed south of Baja California. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Depression Six-E was located at latitude 11.3°N and longitude 109.1°W which put the center about 805 miles (1290 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California. The tropical depression was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1008 mb.
Tropical Depression Six-E is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane by early next week.
