Hurricane Narda moved south of Baja California on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Narda was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 112.3°W which put the center about 560 miles (905 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Narda was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.
The distribution of thunderstorms in Hurricane Narda became more asymmetrical on Wednesday. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western side of Narda’s circulation. Bands in the eastern side of Hurricane Narda consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Narda still generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the hurricane.
An upper level ridge over northwestern Mexico was producing easterly winds that blew toward the top of Hurricane Narda. Those winds caused moderate vertical wind shear. The moderate vertical wind shear caused the distribution of thunderstorms to become asymmetrical.
The size of the circulation around Hurricane Narda increased on Wednesday. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Narda’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) from the center of Hurricane Narda.
Hurricane Narda will move through an environment that will become more favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Narda will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. The upper level ridge that is over northwestern Mexico will continue to produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Narda’s circulation. However, those winds are forecast to weaken on Thursday, which would mean there will be less vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will still inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to stop intensification. Hurricane Narda could intensify during the next 24 hours if the upper level winds weaken.
Hurricane Narda will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Narda toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Narda will move southwest of Baja California.
