688 AXPZ20 KNHC 190835 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Sun Feb 19 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 0830 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between 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. Winds will diminish below gale force today. Seas are currently peaking near 14 ft, and will gradually subside as winds diminish. Large seas generated from this event continue to spread well away from the Tehuantepec area, impacting the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters, and will spread as far west as 110W by this 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 127W. Seas are forecast to subside below 12 ft today. 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 08N84W to 01N104W. The ITCZ continues from 01N104W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 06N to 10N between 130W and 140W. 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 prevail west of the Baja California peninsula. Elsewhere, gentle to locally moderate winds prevail. Seas are in the 4-6 ft range over the open waters, and 1-3 ft over the Gulf of California. For the forecast, aside from the gale force gap wind event, Light to gentle winds will prevail elsewhere across the open waters off Mexico today, increasing modestly early this 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 by midweek. 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 92W 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 today before diminishing. Swell generated from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event will maintain large northerly swell over the Guatemala and El Salvador waters today. 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 and W of 130W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ 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 today, with overall little change to seas within this part of the area. $$ AL