000
AXPZ20 KNHC 301515
TWDEP 

TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION 
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1605 UTC WED DEC 31 2008

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

BASED ON 1200 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE IMAGERY THROUGH 
1500 UTC.

...ITCZ...
THE INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE IS ALONG THE LINE...06N77W TO 
06N105W TO 08N140W. SCATTERED MODERATE WITH ISOLATED STRONG 
CONVECTION IS WITHIN THE AREA 90 NM EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM 
15N115W TO 07N130W.

...DISCUSSION...
DEEP LAYER TROUGH IS NORTH OF A LINE FROM 25N140W TO 27N135W TO 
16N110W TO 32N100W. THE AREA NORTH OF THE LINE IS CLOUD FREE IN 
THE MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVELS WITH BROKEN TO OVERCAST 
STRATOCUMULUS IN THE LOWER LEVEL WEST OF 122W N OF 25N AND WEST 
OF 115W ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE TROUGH REGION. A PLUME OF BROKEN TO 
OVERCAST HIGH CLOUDS EXTENDS 300 NM E OF THE TROUGH OVER MEXICO. 
REMAINDER OF THE AREA IS UNDER BROAD ANTICYCLONIC FLOW IN THE 
MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVELS.

MODERATE SURFACE RIDGE IS NORTH OF 13N W OF 110W SOUTH OF 23N 
AND WEST OF THE BAJA PENINSULA N OF 23N. ELSEWHERE A BROAD 
SURFACE TROUGH IS ANALYZED.

EXCEPT FOR SOME ITCZ CONVECTION THE AREA EAST OF 105W IS DRY AND 
CLOUD FREE IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVELS WITH BROKEN 
STRATOCUMULUS SOUTH OF THE ITCZ IN THE LOWER LEVELS.

GALE WINDS CONTINUE IN THE GULF OF TEHUANTEPEC REGION AND WILL 
CONTINUE FOR 18 TO 24 HOURS ENDING EARLY WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL 
THEN RAPIDLY DIMINISH TO LESS THAN 20 KT THEN BEGIN AGAIN LATER 
WEDNESDAY BUT REMAIN 20 TO 25 KT THROUGH 48 HOURS.

GAP WINDS OF 20 TO 25 KT CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN 
THE GULF OF PAPAGAYO REGION.

$$
LL