000
AXPZ20 KNHC 232203
TWDEP 

TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2205 UTC SAT FEB 23 2008

TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN FROM 
THE EQUATOR TO 32N...EAST OF 140W. 

BASED ON 1800 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE IMAGERY THROUGH 
2100 UTC.
 
...ITCZ...
ITCZ AXIS ALONG 6N77W 8N87W 6N94W 6N101W 8N109W 4N125W 4N140W. 
SCATTERED MODERATE CONVECTION WITHIN 60 NM OF AXIS FROM 
109W-121W.

...DISCUSSION...
W OF 105W...
LONGWAVE TROUGH EXTEND FROM 32N130W 20N1124W TO CYCLONIC VORTEX 
AT 8N131W THEN EQUATOR AT 130W.  VERY DRY AIR MASS ENTIRE SW 
SEMICIRCLE OF VORTEX.  SOME DIFFLUENCE BETWEEN VORTEX AND 
DOWNSTREAM RIDGE CREST ENHANCING SCATTERED MODERATE CONVECTION 
ALONG ITCZ.  FROM 30N-32N W OF 130W...STRONG JET OVER 135 KT 
ADVECTING PLENTY OF MOISTURE EASILY OBSERVED IN DIFFLUENT 
PATTERNS IN RIGHT REAR AND LEFT FRONT QUADRANTS.

SMALL SHEAR ZONE S OF 10N FROM 90W-100W PRECEDES BROAD RIDGE 
WITH ANTICYCLONE OVER LAKE MARACAIBO.  VERY DRY AIR MASS UNDER 
SHEAR AND RIDGE.

AT THE SURFACE...LOW PRES CENTER 976 MB AT 36N137W PRODUCING 
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS HAS COLD FRONT EXTEND FROM 32N123W TO 
23N140W.  GALE WARNINGS W OF FRONT AND N OF 28N WITHIN 300 NM E 
OF FRONT WIT 27 FT SEAS.  FORECAST LOW PRES CENTER TO MOVE NE 
RAPIDLY DIMINISHING WINDS OVER FORECAST WATERS BELOW GALE FORCE 
WITHIN 24 HRS.

$$
WALLY BARNES