Tropical Storm Ivo: Map, Update: Storm Expected to Bring Tropical Rains to Southwest

By Friday morning, Tropical Depression Nine-E had strengthened into Tropical Storm Ivo to the south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

As of 5 p.m. EST, the storm's maximum sustained winds increased from 35 mph to 45 mph as it moved to the north at 6 mph. It's located about 265 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

"Some slight strengthening is expected into the weekend as Ivo heads north-northwestward between an area of high pressure over the central United States and a dip in the jet stream along the West Coast. This will keep the center of Ivo on a track to the west of Mexico's Baja peninsula," reports USA Today.

Because the storm is so large, tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued for most of the coast of Baja, California, reports Weather.com.  It is also a chance that this storm could bring rain and flooding to the Southwest.

"The combination of the ongoing monsoon and moisture from Tropical Storm Ivo over the eastern Pacific will bring heavy rainfall to portions of the Southwest Sunday and Monday," reports AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, according to USA Today.

Both Phoenix and Las Vegas could see very heavy rain and the potential for flash floods. In Las Vegas, the weather service warns that "numerous thunderstorms, some with heavy rain, will lead to the possibility of extensive flash flooding."

Eventually, Ivo will track over cooler water and degenerate into a remnant low on Sunday.

Ivo is not forecast to strengthen into a hurricane, with weakening expected on Saturday night and Sunday.

Ivo is the ninth named tropical storm or hurricane of the this year's hurricane season.