833 AXPZ20 KNHC 220238 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Wed Mar 22 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0200 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Pacific Gale Warning for far northern waters behind a cold front: A cold front extends from the coast at the U.S. Mexico border to 20N130W to 18N140W. Strong high pressure building in behind the front with cold-air advection is supporting strong to gale- force W to NW winds north of about 28N west of the front to around 136W, with strong to near-gale force winds north of 25N. As the front moves E away from the area, winds will diminish below gale force late tonight into early Wed. Pacific Significant Swell Event: The other hazard from the aforementioned cold front is large NW swell following the front, with seas reaching up to around 19 ft into early Wed along and north of 30N. 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 building shorter- period waves associated with northeast trade winds, with combined significant wave heights reaching 12 ft mainly from 07N to 19N and west of 120W. These seas of around 12 ft may continue through Sat night before decaying for the end of the weekend. 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... A surface trough extends from 07N78W to 04N90W. The ITCZ extends from 04N93W to 02N108W to 00N126W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 00N to 10N between 102W to 126W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 00N to 04N between 90W to 100W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A cold front from the coast at the U.S. Mexico border across the waters offshore Baja California is producing some fresh to locally strong SW winds ahead of it over offshore waters and strong SW winds in the northern Gulf of California. Fresh to locally strong NW winds have developed behind the cold front. Seas of 5 to 8 ft are occurring where winds are fresh to strong. Mainly fresh gap winds are occurring in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, with seas of 4 to 7 ft. Mainly gentle anticyclonic winds around a ridge ahead of the front are across the remainder of the offshore waters of Mexico, along with seas of 2 to 4 ft. Smoke front agricultural fires in Mexico and Central America is restricting visibility across portions of the waters offshore SW Mexico. For the forecast, fresh to strong N winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will pulse tonight into early Wed. The cold front will cross the Baja California Peninsula and Gulf of California through Wed night. Fresh to strong SW to W gap winds will be in the northern Gulf of California ahead of this cold front, and fresh to strong W to NW winds will occur offshore Baja California behind the front through the remainder of the forecast period. Fresh to strong winds will develop behind the front in the central and southern Gulf of California to near Cabo Corrientes Thu through early Sat. Meanwhile, large NW swell of 8 to 12 ft will arrive behind the front offshore Baja California tonight and continue through the end of the week, with a reinforcing set this weekend. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to locally strong gap winds are occurring across the Gulf of Papagayo due to high pressure north of the area, with seas of 5 to 7 ft. Mainly fresh gap winds are ongoing in the Gulf of Panama. Elsewhere, light to gentle variable winds prevail over the offshore waters of Central America and northern South America, along with seas of 3 to 5 ft mainly due to a long-period south to southwest swell. Smoke from agricultural fires over Central America is leading to some visibility restrictions offshore waters from Nicaragua north. For the forecast, fresh to strong gap winds will pulse across the Gulf of Papagayo and the coast of Nicaragua through the week. Moderate to fresh N to NE winds can be expected over the Gulf of Panama through Fri, with locally strong winds at nights through Thu. 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 in effect for the waters well W of Baja California Norte into early Wed, as well as significant seas over the northern waters continuing into Wed. Weak high pressure ridging is the main feature over the area to the south of the aforementioned cold front. Moderate to locally fresh trade winds mainly from near 03N to 20N west of 130W are supporting combined seas of 5 to 7 ft in that area. Mainly gentle to moderate winds and slight seas are noted elsewhere. For the forecast, the cold front will move east across the northern and central waters through Wed as it weakens. As high pressure builds in behind this front, trade winds will increase from around 03N to 25N W of 110W, supporting fresh to strong speeds for the latter half of the week into Sat night, then diminishing somewhat for the end of the weekend. Mainly gentle to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will prevail elsewhere. $$ KONARIK