000 AXPZ20 KNHC 172147 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Fri Feb 17 2017 Tropical Weather Discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Equator to 32N, east of 140W. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis. Based on 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2100 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gale Warning: A major Pacific storm system moving eastward toward the State of California has pushed a cold front across the northern forecast waters. At 1800 UTC, the front extends from 30N122W to 23N130W to 19N140W. This front is bringing gale force winds on both sides of the front, and very large seas behind the front and across the northwest waters. These hazardous marine conditions are expected to shift eastward across the north waters tonight. The southerly gale conditions and leading edge of large NW swell will reach the far offshore waters of PMZ009 and PMZ011 this evening before diminishing below gale force tonight. The northwesterly gale conditions will just briefly reach the far offshore waters of these two zones early on Saturday morning before diminishing to strong to near gale force Saturday evening. Seas behind the front are peaking around 25-26 ft this afternoon through tonight across the NW and N central waters then subside very slowly to near 20 ft across the NE waters Saturday and Saturday night. This large and dangerous swell event will reach the coast of Baja California Norte this evening and tonight, and spread southward across the whole Baja California peninsula Saturday, then reach the Revillagigedo Islands on Sunday, and the Cabo Corrientes region of Mexico Sunday night. See statements from your local meteorological agency on this significant marine event for information on high seas, and associated dangerous beach and surf conditions. Gulf of California Gale Warning: Southerly winds of 20-25 kt across the waters N of 30N will further increase to minimal gale force across the north waters by this evening, ahead of the approaching cold front mentioned above. The front will move east- southeast across the gulf waters tonight and Saturday. Minimal gale force southerly winds are possible over the gulf waters S of 28N on Saturday. Strong to gale force winds are also expected over the Baja California Peninsula mainly north of 28N tonight. Strong southerly winds, with frequent gusts to gale force are also expected to affect the States of Sonora and Sinaloa on Saturday. See statements from your local meteorological agency on this significant weather event expected to produce significant impacts across the EPAC waters, Baja California and NW Mexico. Refer to High Seas forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFEP2/ FZPN03 KNHC for additional details on these gale force wind conditions. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The ITCZ and associated convection is located S of the area. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... See Special Features section above for more information on the gale warning in the Gulf of California. A strong cold front is approaching the offshore waters W of Baja California Peninsula. The most recent scatterometer pass is showing fresh to strong southerly winds across forecast zone PMZ009 and across parts of zones PMZ011 and PMZ013. Gale conditions are expected tonight across these forecast zones with seas building up to 18-20 ft late tonight into Saturday. Refer to Special Features section above for more information. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: mainly gentle to moderate winds are expected through most of the forecast period. Gulf of Panama: Moderate to fresh northerly flow is generally expected through Saturday. Cross equatorial long period SW swell continues to affect the waters between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands (except in the lee of the islands), with seas in the 5-6 ft range affecting the pacific coast of Central America. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... a strong cold front is moving across the north waters producing a large area of gale force winds and very large seas. See the Special Features section for more details. High pressure of 1018 mb centered just south of Los Cabos will dissipate in about 12-24 hours as the above mentioned cold front moves eastward across the north waters. Northwesterly swells with seas greater than 8 ft are currently covering much of the waters W of 120W. This swell event will propagate southeastward covering much the area N of 05N W of 110W on Saturday. $$ GR