000
AXPZ20 KNHC 262157
TWDEP 

TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION    
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2205 UTC THU FEB 26 2009

TROPICAL WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN FROM 
THE EQUATOR TO 32N...EAST OF 140W. 

BASED ON 1800 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE IMAGERY THROUGH 
2100 UTC.

...ITCZ...

THE INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE IS ALONG THE LINE...05N77W TO 
03N100W TO 06N128W 05N140W. NO SIGNIFICANT CONVECTION NOTED.

...DISCUSSION...

AN UPPER CYCLONE REMAINS CUTOFF NE OF HAWAII NEAR 32N147W...TO 
THE WEST OF A LOW AMPLITUDE UPPER RIDGE CENTERED ALONG 120W N OF 
20N. ASSOCIATED QUASI-STATIONARY SURFACE 1026 MB HIGH PRES IS 
CENTERED NEAR 31N127W...BLOCKING A WEAK FRONT/TROUGH FEATURE NE 
OF HAWAII. QUIKSCAT SHOWS PERSISTENT NORTHERLY WINDS BETWEEN THE 
HIGH PRES AND THE NORTHERN BAJA COAST...IN ADDITION A BROAD 
SWATH OF TRADES SOUTH OF THE SURFACE HIGH PRES SOUTH OF 15N. NW 
SWELL TO 9 FT WITH PERIODS TO 16S WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH ACROSS 
THE AREA THROUGH SAT. THE UPPER CYCLONE OPENS UP AND LIFTS OUT 
FRI AS AN UPPER TROUGH DEEPENS OFF THE U.S. WEST COAST THROUGH 
SAT. THIS SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COLD FRONT PUSHING INTO 
THE FAR NW DISCUSSION AREA LATE FRI THROUGH SAT...ALLOWING THE 
RIDGE ALONG 120W TO AMPLIFY. THE SURFACE PRES WEAKENS AHEAD OF 
THE ADVANCING FRONT/TROUGH FRI INTO SAT...WINDS INCREASE AROUND 
THE HIGH DUE TO THE TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT. THIS RESULTS 
IN INCREASING WINDS THROUGH THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA STARTING 
TONIGHT AS WINDS ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE HIGH PRES FUNNEL 
INTO THE GULF. 

FURTHER SOUTH...FRESH TO STRONG TRADES THROUGH THE GULF OF 
PAPAGAYO PERSIST AS NOTED ON SCATTEROMETER AND LAND BASED DATA. 
A SHIP REPORTED 20 KT NORTHERLY FLOW S OF THE BAY OF 
PANAMA...ALTHOUGH AN ASCAT PASS SHOWED ONLY AROUND 15 KT THROUGH 
THE AREA. 20 KT NE TRADES IN THE SW CARIBBEAN MAY CROSS THE 
ISTHMUS OCCASIONALLY OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

$$
CHRISTENSEN