000 AXPZ20 KNHC 180813 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Sat Mar 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 0800 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 08N78W to 07N94W and from 10N100W to 03N104W. The ITCZ extends from 03N108W to 02N120W to 00N131W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 03N to 10N between 92W and 99W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A weak pressure gradient across the region is allowing for mainly gentle winds to prevail. Seas are 3 to 5 ft in the offshore waters, with seas in the Gulf of California of less than 2 ft. For the forecast, strong gap winds will develop in the Gulf of Tehuantepec Sat night, then increase to gale Sun night through Mon morning. Strong gap winds will then persist into Tue. A cold front will approach Baja California Norte Tue, then move across the northern Gulf of California Wed. This will result in the development of SW fresh to strong gap winds in the northern Gulf of California Mon night ahead of the front. Elsewhere, mostly benign marine conditions will prevail into Wed. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle winds prevail over the offshore waters of Central America and South America. Seas are in the 3-5 ft range in S to SW swell. For the forecast, light to gentle winds will prevail over the offshore waters through much of the forecast period. Winds in the Papagayo region will pulse to moderate tonight, then increase to fresh to strong speeds Sun night and continuing through late next week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... SW winds ahead of a weak cold front have increased to fresh toward 30N140W. A 1014 mb low pressure centered near 27N122W is inducing locally moderate cyclonic winds. The pressure gradient between 1020 mb high pressure near 22N139W and the lower pressure of the ITCZ is leading to moderate to locally fresh trades between the equator and 18N and W of 110W. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds dominate. Seas are generally 4 to 7 ft. For the forecast, high pressure will build along 23N to 24N this weekend, maintaining the moderate to fresh tradewinds over the tradewind zone. A cold front will enter the NW waters Mon, likely leading to increasing winds and seas N of 25N and W of 130W early next week. $$ KONARIK