000 AXPZ20 KNHC 280835 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Thu Sep 28 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. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave is along 90W north of 05N to across portions of Central America, moving west at around 10 kt. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 05N to 07N between 87W and 89W. A tropical wave is analyzed along 132W from 03N to 18N, moving W at 10 to 15 kt. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 06N to 08N between 129W and 131W. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 09N83W to 09N95W to 07N105W. Segments of the ITCZ extend from 07N105W to 10N130W, and from 09N133W to 11N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 05N to 07N between 123W and 125W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Weak ridging extends across the region north of 22N, supporting moderate NW winds persist off Baja California, which is accompanied by 8 to 12 ft seas in NW swell. Light to gentle breezes are observed elsewhere with 4 to 5 ft seas over open waters in southerly swell. Gentle southerly breezes and slight seas are evident in the Gulf of California. For the forecast, the long period NW swell in excess of 8 ft will persist off Baja California as far south as the Revillagigedo Islands into Fri, and will linger off Baja California Norte into Sat. Farther south, moderate to fresh N gap winds will pulse to strong across the Gulf of Tehuantepec during the early mornings though Sun. Looking ahead, fresh to strong westerly gap winds over the northern Gulf of California will start Fri evening, ahead of a weakening cold front, possibly reaching near-gale force by Sat evening. Expect moderate to fresh winds off Baja California Sur early next week as high pressure builds in behind the front. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are noted within 90 nm of the coast of Nicaragua and beyond 180 nm off Costa Rica and western Panama, south of the monsoon trough following the passage of a tropical wave now extending through El Salvador. Light and variable breezes are evident off northern Central America, north of the monsoon trough, along with combined seas of 3-5 ft in southerly swell. Gentle to moderate southerly winds are noted south of the monsoon trough. Combined seas are 4-7 ft there, except 6-9 ft offshore Ecuador, highest south of the Galapagos Islands. For the forecast, gentle to moderate winds will prevail to the north of 05N with seas 5 ft or less through Sun night, with moderate SW winds farther south. Seas may build slightly in southerly swell early next week. Seas south of 05N will be 6-9 ft in southerly swell through Fri evening, with seas highest to the SW of the Galapagos. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Recent scatterometer satellite data from around 0530 UTC confirm NE trade winds are starting to increase from 10N to 20N west of 125W, where fresh to strong winds are evident. This is due to high pressure building north of 22N, and the passage of a vigorous tropical wave over the tropical waters west of 130W. Long- period NW swell has been propagating across most of the area north of 10N and west of 115W. The mix of the NW swell with the increasing trade winds has resulted in combined seas of 8 to 12 ft from 10N to 20N and west of 125W as noted in altimeter satellite data from around 0230 UTC. Farther south, cross- equatorial southerly swell of 8 to 10 ft is evident south of 07N and west of 105W, with moderate to fresh SE winds. Gentle breezes and 5 to 7 ft seas are noted elsewhere. For the forecast, the tropical wave will continue westward, approaching 140W Fri morning. Some development of this system is possible over the next couple of days while it moves generally westward at about 10 to 15 kt. By late Fri, upper- level winds are forecast to become unfavorable for further development before the system moves into the Central Pacific basin. At a minimum, fresh to strong seas and seas of 8-13 ft will accompany this feature. High pressure will dominate the waters elsewhere N of the monsoon trough/ITCZ. The pressure gradient will weaken by the end of the week into the weekend as the tropical wave departs and the high weakens leading to improving conditions. Meanwhile, for seas, the northerly swell of 8 ft or greater will reach to the Equator and west of 115W by the end of the week, while the southerly swell of 8 ft or greater lingers near the Equator and southward. Both large areas of swell should gradually decay this by Sun. $$ Christensen