140 AXPZ20 KNHC 220746 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0730 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Pacific Significant Swell Event: Large NW swell following a cold front continues to propagate across waters N of 23N, with seas of up to 18 ft along 30N. The seas have generally peaked this morning, and will begin to gradually subside into tonight. 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 are likely to 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 for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 07N78W to 04N90W. The ITCZ extends from 04N92W to 02N109W to 00N128W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 02N to 10N between 105W and 127W and from 00N to 04N between 91W and 98W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from the northern Gulf of California to offshore waters of Baja California Sur. Fresh to locally strong SW winds are occurring ahead of it in the northern Gulf of California, with mainly fresh NW winds behind it over offshore waters. Seas in these areas are 5 to 8 ft, except 7 to 10 ft well W of Baja California Norte. Fresh to locally strong gap winds are occurring in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, with seas of 4 to 7 ft. Elsewhere, mainly gentle NW winds dominate. Smoke front agricultural fires in Mexico and Central America is restricting visibility across portions of the waters offshore SW Mexico. For the forecast, N winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will diminish today. The cold front will move SE through the Gulf through tonight, then dissipate. Fresh to locally strong SW to W gap winds ahead of the front in the northern Gulf of California will diminish as it passes. Fresh to locally strong NW winds will occur offshore Baja California behind the front through the forecast period, with pulses of fresh to locally strong winds also over the southern Gulf of California and near Cabo Corrientes. Large NW swell of 8 to 12 ft issue arriving behind the front offshore Baja California will 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 strong gap winds are ongoing in the Gulf of Papagayo and adjacent waters offshore Nicaragua due to high pressure north of the area, with seas of 6 to 8 ft. Fresh gap winds are ongoing in the Gulf of Panama, with seas of 5 to 7 ft. 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 into the weekend. Moderate to fresh N to NE winds can be expected over the Gulf of Panama into Fri, with locally strong winds possible tonight. Gentle to moderate winds and slight seas will prevail elsewhere through the period. Smoke from agricultural fires in northern Central America may at times restrict visibility over adjacent waters. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see Special Features section above for details on significant seas over the northern waters today. A cold front has moved generally east of the area, to near the coast of Mexico. Strong NW winds continue behind it over waters N of 28N and E of 130W, but gales have ending. As the high pressure building in behind the front weakens slightly and cold-air advection ends, winds will continue to subside today into tonight, N of 25N. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh trade winds mainly from near 03N to 20N west of 130W are supporting combined seas of 5 to 7 ft. Mainly gentle to moderate winds and slight seas are noted over the remainder of area waters. For the forecast, as high pressure continues to build S in the wake of the cold front, trade winds will increase from around 03N to 25N W of 110W, supporting fresh to strong speeds 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