 The storm drifted southward and later eastward due to northerly flow behind a mid- to upper @-@ level trough in the Gulf of Mexico . With well @-@ defined outflow and warm sea surface temperatures , Barbara became better organized as tightly curved bands of convection developed near the center . However , by May 31 , increased wind shear and less inflow deteriorated the definition of the circulation , causing the storm to weaken . By later that day , the system contained a very small circulation within a large @-@ scale trough , and early on June 1 it was downgraded to tropical depression status . Later in the day , convective banding features re @-@ developed , and after a QuikSCAT overpass indicated a well @-@ defined circulation in the system , Barbara was again upgraded to tropical storm status . The storm reached peak winds of 50 mph ( 85 km / h ) and turned to the northeast as it tracked through a break in a ridge extending from the southwest Gulf of Mexico . Banding features continued to organize , and shortly before moving ashore a low @-@ level eye feature developed . At about 1300 UTC on June 2 , Barbara made landfall just west of the border between Mexico and Guatemala . The center quickly deteriorated to tropical depression status over the mountainous terrain of extreme southeastern Chiapas , and Barbara dissipated within twelve hours of moving ashore . 
