000 AXPZ20 KNHC 180916 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Sat Feb 18 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0900 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Storm Warning: The pressure gradient between strong high pressure along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico and lower pressure within the equatorial trough in the eastern Pacific is supporting storm force N winds in the Tehuantepec region. Winds will diminish to gale-force early today, then prevail through Sun morning. Seas are currently peaking to near 22 ft, and will gradually start to subside today as winds diminish. Large seas generated from this event will spread well away from the Tehuantepec area, impacting the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters, and spreading as far west as 110W by Sun evening. Mariners transiting across or in the vicinity of the Gulf of Tehuantepec should be aware of this and take the necessary action to avoid these hazardous marine conditions. Pacific Significant Swell: Low pressure will shift southward to near 29N today. The pressure gradient between the low and high pressure to its W is supporting fresh to strong northerly winds west of the low. These winds may reach near-gale-force speeds today. A set of NW to N swell has propagated into the NW waters, supporting seas to 13 ft. Seas of 12-15 ft at 10-12 seconds will prevail roughly N of 20N and W of 125W today before subsiding on Sun. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more information on these events. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 08N82W to 01N108W. The ITCZ continues from 01N108W to 06N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 06N to 10N between 135W and 140W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A Storm Warning is in effect for the Gulf the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Please see the Special Features section for more information. Gentle to moderate winds, and seas of 2-3 ft, prevail over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds, and seas of 4-6 ft are noted. For the forecast, aside from the storm force gap wind event, light to gentle winds will prevail elsewhere across the open waters off Mexico the remainder of the weekend, increasing modestly early next week. Gentle to locally moderate winds will prevail across much of the Gulf of California, briefly strengthening over the northern Gulf midweek. A set of NW swell will propagate into the waters off Baja California midweek. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong winds prevail across the Gulf of Papagayo, extending downwind to near 89W along with seas to 8 ft. Fresh to strong N winds are in the Gulf of Panama, where seas are in the 4 to 5 ft range. Light to gentle winds prevail elsewhere along with seas of 4-5 ft primarily in long-period S to SW swell. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE to E winds in the Gulf of Papagayo region will persist through early next week, pulsing to near-gale each night with rough seas. Fresh to strong N to NE winds will prevail in the Gulf of Panama this weekend. Swell generated from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event will maintain large northerly swell over the Guatemala and El Salvador waters this weekend. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see the Special Features section for information regarding significant seas, and associated synoptic features, in the northwestern part of the area. High pressure prevails across the waters N of 20N. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ to the south supports an area of moderate to fresh trades N of the ITCZ to 20N and W of 130W. Seas are 8-10 ft in a mix of long- period N swell and NE wind waves over these waters. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker with seas of 5-8 ft primarily in northerly swell. For the forecast, aside from the significant swell event, fresh NE to E trade winds are forecast to persist over the west- central waters through the upcoming weekend, with overall little change to seas within this part of the area. $$ AL