000 AXPZ20 KNHC 240407 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Fri Feb 24 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0200 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... There is no ITCZ currently over the forecast waters north of the equator. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Winds and seas continue to subside across the Gulf of Tehuantepec region this evening as the pressure gradient continues to weaken, and southerly return flow has set up across the western Gulf of Mexico. Elsewhere, a tight pressure gradient between high pressure offshore of California extending southeast to near 15N108W, and a trough along western Mexico continues this evening. Afternoon ASCAT data depicted strong NWly winds off the north and central coast of Baja California extending south to near 24N, as a result of this tight gradient. Strong winds also were depicted over the central Gulf of California, with little change in these winds in the past few hours. Seas off the coast of Baja California Norte remain in the 8-12 ft range in mixed NW swell, and are generally 4-6 ft from the Tehuantepec region to entrance to the Gulf of California. The area of high pressure northwest of the area will weaken tonight through Saturday and begin to loosen the pressure gradient over the area. This will result in slowly diminishing winds across these areas tonight through Friday. Mixed NW swell will continue to move through the waters off the west coast of Baja California, maintaining seas 8 ft or greater through Friday night. Seas are expected to subside below 8 ft by late Friday night. Fresh northwesterly swell will arrive offshore Baja California Norte by Monday. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle mainly onshore winds will prevail through Saturday. Winds will freshen and shift offshore along the Papagayo region and Gulf of Panama Saturday night through Sunday night as fresh easterly trade winds return to the western Caribbean. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Slowly subsiding NW swell continues to propagate across the remaining forecast waters. Seas greater than 8 ft cover much of the forecast waters north of 05N and west of 113W. Areal coverage of these seas greater than 8 ft continues to decrease. By Friday night, seas will subside below 8 ft over most of the forecast area, except over the northwest waters as a cold front moves into the area and ushers in fresh northwest swell. Combined seas associated with this next NW swell will peak at 10 to 11 ft Saturday over the northwest waters. Strong southerly winds are expected ahead of the front as it crosses the northern waters this weekend. $$ Stripling