Tropical Storm Jimena forms off Mexican coast

Tropical Storm Jimena formed off the western coast of Mexico yesterday afternoon as TD #13-E. Jimena was upgraded this morning to a tropical storm. Jimena is heading towards the west and is exected to reach hurricane status within a day. Storm projections indicate that over the next few days Jimena will grow to a major Category 3 storm, turn northwest and head for Baja California.

The storm track indicates that Jimena will pass along the western coast of Baja California subjecting the peninsula to the strongest wind and rain of the storm. Weakening of the hurricane may not occur until after Jimena begins interacting with land.

Tropical Storm Public Advisory(Weather Underground)

...Jimena rapidly intensifies...almost a hurricane...

at 600 am PDT...1300 UTC...the center of Tropical Storm Jimena was located near
latitude 14.2 north...longitude 102.8 west or about 270 miles...430 km...southwest of Acapulco Mexico and about 345 miles...555 km...south-southeast of Manzanillo Mexico.

Jimena is moving toward the west near 10 mph...17 km/hr. This general motion with a gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected during the next 24 to 48 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph...110 km/hr...with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Jimena could become a major hurricane by late Sunday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles...75 km from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb...29.23 inches.