000 AXPZ20 KNHC 101504 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Fri Feb 10 2023 Tropical Weather Discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from 03.4S to 30N, east of 120W including the Gulf of California, and from the Equator to 30N, between 120W and 140W. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis. Based on 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1450 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A strong cold front entering the Gulf of Mexico this morning will move quickly across the W half of the Gulf. Strong high pressure behind this front will build southward across eastern Mexico and induce gale-force northerly gap winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec beginning tonight. These conditions will become stronger through the weekend, with winds possibly approaching 50 kt on Sat night. Seas are expected to peak around 19 ft from Sat afternoon through Sat night. Gale conditions are expected to continue across the area through Sun night/early Mon before diminishing. East Pacific Significant Seas: Large NW swell that was generated a few days ago by an intense storm system well N of the area is moving across the NW part of the area behind a cold front associated to that low pressure system. The swell is forecast to gradually outrun the front as it weakens through tonight. Seas of 12 ft and greater will continue to spread southeastward to near 130W through this afternoon. NW swell at 14-15 seconds is expected to dominate. Strong high pressure will increase the pressure gradient across the regional waters from NW to SE into the weekend, and create a large area of fresh to strong N to NE winds to the west of 125W by Sat afternoon. Peak seas of 14 ft will reach the NW waters today. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more information on these warnings. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from northwestern Colombia near 07N78W to 05N90W to 02N97W. The ITCZ extends from 02N98W to 01N120W to 07N140W. Scattered moderate convection is within 90 nm south of the trough and from 06N-17N W of 129W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Strong high pressure persists north of the Pacific waters W of 120W. Fresh to strong NNW winds continue across the Gulf of California, where seas are 4-6 ft across central and southern sections. Moderate N to NE winds prevail across the Baja California offshore waters to Cabo Corrientes, with seas in the 5-7 ft range in NW swell. Gentle to moderate winds are elsewhere offshore of southwestern Mexico. Seas are 4-6 ft elsewhere offshore Mexico. For the forecast, fresh to strong northerly gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will increase to gale-force starting tonight. These conditions will become stronger through the weekend, with winds briefly approaching 50 kt on Sat night. Seas will peak around 19 ft from Sat afternoon through Sat night. Gale conditions are expected to continue across the area through Sun night/early Mon. Fresh to strong NNW winds in the Gulf of California will diminish tonight. Fresh to strong NW winds will move into the far northern offshore waters of Baja California from late Fri night into Sun, as a cold front moves through the area and dissipates, accompanied by building seas in NW swell. Fresh to strong S to SW winds develop in the far northern Gulf of California on Tue ahead of a strong cold front. These winds are expected to become strong to near gale SW to W winds Tue night along with building seas to 9 ft. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Strong NE winds are offshore Nicaragua and the Gulf of Papagayo region, extending offshore to near 90W. Seas are 6-8 ft in this area. Fresh N to NE winds are in the Gulf of Panama, extending southward to 05N, where seas are 4-7 ft. Light to gentle variable winds prevail elsewhere, along with 4-6 ft seas primarily in SW swell. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE to E winds across the Gulf of Papagayo region and Nicaragua waters will persist through early next week. Winds may reach near gale-force at night from Fri through Sun. Moderate to fresh N-NE winds in the Gulf of Panama will change little into next week, except pulse to strong Sun night. A significant gale-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec region is expected over the weekend. Large NW swell generated from this event will propagated through the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters Sat through late Sun night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Broad high pressure is over the area. An area of fresh NE to E winds prevails across the waters from 08N to 28N and W of 132W. Large NE wind-generated seas are combining with NW swell moving through these waters resulting in seas of 8-12 ft. Please see the Special Features section for information on these significant seas. Seas are 5-8 ft E of 120W due to mixed long-period NW swell and SW swell. Elsewhere, moderate wind and seas are noted. For the forecast, high pressure will continue building east- southeastward supporting fresh to strong NE to E winds to the W of 130W today. Seas of 12 ft and greater will prevail over the western part of the area today as the large NW swell propagates into that part of the area. A cold front will approach the Baja offshore waters Sat, with the strong high pressure behind it tightening the gradient across the area. This will result in fresh to strong N to NE winds and large seas over much of the area waters W of 120W through the weekend. $$ Ramos