000 AXPZ20 KNHC 031004 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Fri Nov 3 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 0900 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Tropical Storm Pilar is centered near 10.4N 101.1W at 03/0900 UTC, moving west-southwest at 19 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 45 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Convection has been weakening, with the center mostly exposed. Pilar has been moving rapidly over the past several hours, but is expected to become slower as it continues to move west- southwestward over the next couple of days. Little change in strength is forecast during the next few days. Please read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National Hurricane Center at website - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml and the latest Pilar NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A scatterometer satellite pass from around 0330 UTC confirmed gale force winds to 40 kt in the Gulf of Tehuantepec area. Peak seas are estimated to be around 14 ft. These winds are due to a very tight pressure gradient across the region in the wake of a cold front that moved across the Gulf of Mexico and southern Mexico a couple of days ago. Gales are expected to persist through Sun night. Very large and dangerous seas of 10-14 ft will merge with swells generated by Pilar located well to the southeast of the area and moving farther westward into the open Pacific. This is resulting in confused and hazardous seas where they interact. Please read the latest NHC High Seas forecast at www.hurricanes.gov/marine for more details. Potential for heavy rainfall over Central America: A disturbance (Invest 97L) is currently in the central Caribbean Sea. Plenty of tropical moisture and an unstable atmosphere is forecast to produce heavy rains Friday through the weekend across Central America. This rainfall is likely to result in flash flooding and possible landslides. Please refer to the local weather services for more information. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... Segments of the monsoon trough extends from 11N86W to 10N95W, and from 06N110W to 05N110W to 1009 mb low pressure near 13N119W. The ITCZ extends from 10N122W to 08N130W 07N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 10N to 13N east of 88W, and within 60 nm either side of the ITCZ between 125W and 135W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please refer to the Special Features section above for details on Tropical Storm Pilar and the Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning. Outside of those two events, surface ridging extends across the Baja California offshore waters anchored by a 1022 mb high pres near 32N130W. The pressure gradient from this high pressure and lower pressure over Mexico is leading to moderate to fresh NW to N winds in the Gulf of California, with 2 to 4 ft seas. Meanwhile, gentle to moderate winds are noted across the rest of the Mexico offshore waters. Seas range 4-5 ft in mixed NW and S swell. For the forecast, Tropical Storm Pilar will change little in intensity as it moves farther west through early Mon. In addition to Pilar, a gale warning is in effect across the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The combination of the gale warning and Pilar is resulting in large and confused seas off Oaxaca. Winds and seas will diminish through Mon. Meanwhile, moderate to fresh winds in the Gulf of California will diminish by the end of the weekend. NW-N winds may increase to fresh to strong offshore Baja California Norte early next week. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gentle to moderate S-SW monsoonal winds prevail across the offshore waters with seas 5 to 7 ft. Seas range 8 to 10 ft ft across the offshore waters of Guatemala near Pilar, west of 93W. Seas along the Central American offshore waters are in mixed swell, while the South American offshore waters are within S swell. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are across the waters from Costa Rica southeastward to southern Colombia as described above. For the forecast, expect large seas off Guatemala through Sat due to swell generated off southern Mexico from gale force winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, and the effects of Tropical Storm Pilar centered farther west of the area, moving westward. Gentle to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will persist elsewhere. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please refer to the Special Features section above for details on Tropical Storm Pilar. Tropical Storm Pilar is near 10.4N 101.4W at 2 AM PDT, and is moving west-southwest at 19 kt. Maximum sustained winds are 45 kt with gusts to 55 kt, and the minimum central pressure is 1000 mb. A few showers and thunderstorms are active within 60 nm of 1007 mb low pressure centered near 13N119W. Winds are 15 to 20 kt near this low, with seas to 7 ft. For the forecast, Pilar will move to 10.9N 99.4W Fri morning, 10.4N 102.6W Fri afternoon, 10.3N 105.5W Sat morning, 10.5N 108.1W Sat afternoon, 10.7N 110.5W Sun morning, and 11.2N 112.3W Sun afternoon. Pilar will change little in intensity as it moves near 12.3N 114.9W by Mon afternoon. Pilar will move to 10.0N 103.7W this afternoon, 9.7N 106.7W Sat morning, 9.8N 109.5W Sat afternoon, 10.1N 111.8W Sun morning, 10.5N 113.8W Sun afternoon, and 11.3N 115.1W Mon morning. $$ Christensen