Tropical Storm Dolores strengthened near the west coast of Mexico on Saturday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Dolores was located at latitude 17.9°N and longitude 103.4°W which put it about 95 miles (155 km) southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. Dolores was moving toward the north-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 994 mb.
A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Lazaro Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Lazaro Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Cabo Corrientes to Escuinapa, Mexico.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Dolores exhibited much more organization on Saturday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western, southern and eastern sides of the center of circulation. An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Dolores. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The circulation around Tropical Storm Dolores was relatively small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the northern half of the circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) in the southern half of Dolores.
Tropical Storm Dolores will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Dolores will move over an area where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over southern Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak in that portion of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Dolores could strengthen to a hurricane before it makes landfall.
Tropical Storm Dolores will move around the western end of a small high pressure system over southern Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Dolores toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Dolores could make landfall on the coast of Mexico east of Manzanillo in a few hours. Dolores could be a hurricane when it makes landfall. Tropical Storm Dolores will bring gusty winds to the region near and to the east of Manzanillo. It could cause a storm surge of up to seven feet (two meters) in some locations on the coast. Bands on the northern side of Tropical Storm Dolores could drop heavy rain on parts of western Guerrero, Colima and Jalisco. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.
