000 WTPZ33 KNHC 080230 TCPEP3 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM BLANCA ADVISORY NUMBER 8 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP032009 800 PM PDT TUE JUL 07 2009 ...BLANCA BARELY A TROPICAL STORM... AT 800 PM PDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BLANCA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 117.8 WEST OR ABOUT 540 MILES...865 KM...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA. BLANCA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR... AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR TWO WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND BLANCA IS LIKELY TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION ON WEDNESDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB...29.59 INCHES. ...SUMMARY OF 800 PM PDT INFORMATION... LOCATION...20.3N 117.8W MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST-NORTHWEST OR 300 DEGREES AT 12 MPH MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1002 MB THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 AM PDT. $$ FORECASTER PASCH