The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is reporting that Tropical Storm Dalila is steadily gaining strength off the coast of Mexico and is expected to become a hurricane by Tuesday.
As of the most recent NHC advisory, issued at 8:00 a.m. PDT on Monday, Dalila is currently located approximately 130 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The storm is moving toward the northwest at roughly 9 mph and a gradual turn toward the west with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 60 mph with higher gusts, and tropical storm force winds are extending outward up to 60 miles from the center of the storm. Additional strengthening is expected today and tonight and Dalila may be upgraded to a hurricane by Tuesday.
AccuWeather reports that recent satellite imagery shows that thunderstorm activity has ramped up around the center of circulation. This is further evidence that Dalila could be going through the strengthening process.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for the southwest coast of Mexico, from Punta San Telmo to La Fortuna. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the southwest coast of Mexico, from north of La Fortuna to Cabo Corrientes.
Tropical storm conditions may reach the coast of Mexico within the warning area today. Tropical storm conditions are a possibility in the watch area by this evening.
Dalila is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 - 3 inches, with local amounts near 5 inches near the coast of the Mexican states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.
The NHC will issue its next intermediate advisory on the storm at 11:00 a.m. PDT and its next complete advisory at 2:00 p.m. PDT. Stay tuned for additional updates on Dalila as the day continues.