000 AXPZ20 KNHC 182111 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2100 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale 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 gale force N winds in the Tehuantepec region. These winds will prevail through Sun. Seas are currently peaking to near 21 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 drift E along 28N-29N through the next 48 hours. The pressure gradient between the low and high pressure to its NW is supporting strong to near- gale force northerly winds west of the low. A set of NW to N swell has propagated into the NW waters, supporting seas to 14 ft at 10-12 seconds roughly N of 26N and W of 130W through tonight 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 08N81W to 00N107W. The ITCZ continues from 01N107W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 07N to 18N and W of 133W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A Gale Warning is in effect for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Please see the Special Features section for more information. Light to gentle winds, and seas of 2-3 ft, prevail over the Gulf of California. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds also prevail with seas of 4-6 ft. For the forecast, aside from the gale 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. Light to gentle NW winds will prevail across much of the Gulf of California, briefly strengthening to moderate to fresh over the northern Gulf by midweek. A new set of NW swell will propagate into the waters off Baja California starting on Wed through the end of the week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Strong to near-gale NE winds prevail across the Gulf of Papagayo, extending downwind to near 89W along with seas of 8 to 10 ft. Fresh to strong N winds are in the Gulf of Panama, where seas are in the 5 to 7 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, strong to near-gale NE to E winds in the Gulf of Papagayo region will persist through early next week, 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 through Sun. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see the Special Features section for information on the significant seas and associated synoptic features in the northwestern portion 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 8-9 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 6-8 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 weekend, with overall little change to seas within this part of the area. $$ ERA