000 AXPZ20 KNHC 280305 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 125 UTC Sun Jan 28 2018 Tropical Weather Discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Equator to 32N, east of 140W. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis. Based on 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0300 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A cold front will move across the Gulf of Mexico tonight through Mon. High pressure building in the wake of the front will help to initiate gales across Tehuantepec by Sun morning, and increase to strong gales Sun night. Winds will further increase to storm force Mon evening through Tue. The area of high pressure north of the area will then start to shift eastward, loosening the pressure gradient. Winds will diminish to gale force Wed, and fall below gale force Thu. Please refer to the East Pacific High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFEP2/FZPN03 KNHC for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 07N78W to 05N85W to 05N90W. The ITCZ continues from 05N90W to 07N115W to beyond 09N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted within 60 nm of the ITCZ between 105W and 122W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Gulf of Tehuantepec: Please refer to the special features section above for more on the next gap wind event. Gulf of California: Winds of 20-25 kt prevail over the Gulf of California. The fresh to strong winds will prevail through Mon morning, with the potential for small areas of winds reaching 30 kt, mainly N of 29N, on Sun. Peak seas are expected to build to 9 ft early Sun. NW swell will continue subside over the waters off the coast of Baja California Norte. Seas west of the Baja Peninsula will subside below 8 ft by Sun evening. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate to fresh gap winds will pulse to strong the next several nights over the Gulf of Papagayo. Elsewhere N of 09N, gentle to moderate offshore flow will prevail through Mon then strengthen Tue through Wed. Gentle to moderate S to SW winds will prevail S of 09N the next few days. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1030 mb is centered north of the area near 35N127W. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting fresh to strong trades from 09N to 21N and W of 120W, where seas are reaching 13 ft. NW swell also continues to propagate across these waters and is mixing with the wind generated NE waves. Seas 8 ft or greater associated with this swell cover much of the forecast waters west of 115W. The area of high pressure will shift further from the area and weaken the next couple of days. This will decrease areal coverage of the fresh to strong trades Sunday, with winds further diminishing to 20 kt or less by Mon night. $$ AL