000 AXPZ20 KNHC 210745 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Tue Mar 21 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 0730 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Pacific Gale Warning for far northern waters behind a cold front: A cold front analyzed from near 30N125W tot 22N140W. Strong high pressure building in behind the front with cold-air advection will lead to gale-force W to NW winds today north of about 29N and between 130W-135W, with strong to near- gale force winds north of 25N through tonight. As the front moves E away from the area, winds will diminish below gale force by Wed. Pacific Significant Swell Event: The other hazard from the aforementioned cold front will be large NW swell following the front, with seas reaching to 19 ft late today into early on Wed north of 27N. Wave heights in excess of 12 ft will reach as far south as 23N Wed before subsiding. Looking ahead, even as the NW swell decays Thu into Fri, it will mix with increasing shorter- period waves associated with northeast trade winds along with combined significant wave heights reaching 12 ft mainly from 05N to 25N and west of 110W. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml and Offshore Waters Forecast at www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The ITCZ extends from 02N103W to 00N116W. Convection associated with ITCZ has diminished overnight. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... The tight pressure gradient over southern Mexico resulting from high pressure over the Gulf of Mexico is beginning to relax early this morning as the high pressure moves E away from the region. Thus, gales have ended in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Strong gap winds will gradually diminish into tonight, and seas will fall below 8 ft. Elsewhere off Mexico, weak high pressure dominates most of the waters. Light to gentle winds are present over most of these waters. Moderate to locally fresh SW winds are ongoing over the northern Gulf of California, and winds well W of Baja California Norte have recently increased to moderate to fresh. Seas are generally 2 to 4 ft. For the forecast, a cold front will cross Baja California and the Gulf of California tonight into Wed. Fresh to strong SW to W gap winds will develop in the northern Gulf of California ahead of this cold front, with fresh to strong W to NW winds offshore Baja California behind the front into Thu night. Seas offshore Baja California will be at 8 to 12 ft during this period of higher winds. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to locally gap winds are occurring across the Gulf of Papagayo due to high pressure building north of the area. Moderate gap winds are also ongoing in the Gulf of Panama. Elsewhere, light to gentle variable winds prevail over the offshore waters of Central America and South America along with seas of 3-5 ft due to a long-period south to southwest swell. For the forecast, fresh to locally strong gap winds will prevail across the Gulf of Papagayo and the coast of Nicaragua through tonight. Moderate to fresh N to NE winds can be expected over the Gulf of Panama as well into Wed. Gentle to moderate winds and slight seas will prevail elsewhere through the period. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see Special Features section above for details on a gale warning well west of Baja California Norte Tue as well as significant seas over the northern waters into mid-week. The stationary front over the far NE waters has dissipated overnight. A cold front extends from 30N125W to 24N140W. Ahead of the front, fresh SW winds have developed N of 27N. Behind the front, strong NW winds are occurring and seas have increased to 8 to 10 ft. Weak high pressure ridging is the main feature over the area to the south. Moderate to locally fresh trade winds mainly from 02N to 15N west of 118W are supporting combined seas of 4-6 ft in that area. Generally slight seas are noted elsewhere. For the forecast, the cold front will move east across the northern and central waters through Wed as its southern part weakens and dissipates. As the high pressure builds in behind this front, trade winds will increase W of 125W between the equator and 20N to fresh to strong for the latter half of the week. Mainly gentle winds and slight seas will persist elsewhere east of 110W into Thu. $$ KONARIK