000 AXPZ20 KNHC 300308 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 315 UTC Fri Mar 30 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: Light to gentle winds and seas of 4 to 7 ft in long period SW swell will prevail through Fri. Then, high pressure building S over the western Gulf of Mexico along the Sierra Madre Oriental will usher in a gap wind event beginning Fri evening. Minimal gale conditions are expected Fri night through Sat night. Based on wave model guidance, seas are forecast to peak between 12 and 14 ft during this gap wind event on Sat morning. Conditions will improve Sun and Sun night as winds become light and variable. Please refer to the High Seas Forecast issued by the National Weather Service under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFEP2/FZPN03 KNHC for more details. This information also is found at the following website: www.hurricanes.gov/marine. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 08N83W to 07N90W to 04N103W to 06N108W. The ITCZ axis continues from 06N108W to 08N116W to 04N124W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is occurring from 07N to 08.5N between 88W and 91W, from 03N to 06N between 101W and 104W, and also within 150 nm either side of a line from between 113W and 127W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please refer to the Special Features section above for more information on the developing Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale. High pressure measuring 1029 mb is centered well N of the discussion area near 43N131W. The high ridges SE across the forecast waters to near the Revillagigedo Islands. Moderate to fresh NW winds generally prevail across the central and southern Gulf of California. Winds are light and variable over the remainder of the Gulf. Gentle to moderate NW to N winds will continue across the offshore waters W of Baja California, with 4 to 7 ft seas subsiding to 3 to 6 ft on Fri. Similar marine conditions are expected during the upcoming weekend into early next week, except that surface troughing developing over the Baja Peninsula will cause winds over the Gulf of California to become light to gentle Sat night through Mon. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Fresh to locally strong NE nocturnal winds are expected each night through Sun morning, with seas building to as high as 9 ft downstream of the Gulf tonight and Fri night. Winds will diminish to between moderate and fresh Sun through Tue. Gulf of Panama: Moderate to fresh N winds will prevail through Fri, then taper to moderate Sat and Sun through early next week. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate offshore flow is generally expected N of 08N, while light to gentle SW winds are forecast S of 08N. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A 1029 mb high located well N of the discussion area near 43N131W ridges SE across the forecast waters to near the Revillagigedo Islands. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ supports moderate to fresh trades N of the convergence zone and W of 120W. Seas of 7 to 9 ft from 06N to 19N W of 115W will subside to less than 8 ft by Fri night as trade wind waves and swell subside in response to weakening high pres to the N. Outside of the the gap wind regions, winds of 20 kt or less and seas less than 8 ft are anticipated through the upcoming weekend into the middle of next week as the weather remains quiet. No long period swell events are expected during this time frame as well. $$ Lewitsky