000 AXPZ20 KNHC 200920 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Mon Mar 20 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0900 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... A gale warning will continue in effect for the Gulf of Tehuantepec through Monday night. Winds are forecast to remain up to 40 kt through early Monday morning, with seas building up to 14 ft. Winds will diminish to near gale force afterwards, however will briefly increase again to minimal gale force Monday night. Northerly swell generated by this gap wind event will continue to propagate southward and mix with swell generated in the Gulf of Papagayo region as well as with cross equatorial SW swell. This will result in combined seas of up to 10 ft in waters from 04N to 12N between 92W and 116W today and between 92W and 122W Tuesday. Strong winds and high seas will persist through Thursday morning as high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico enhances drainage flow across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into the eastern Pacific Ocean. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... No ITCZ or Monsoon Trough is discernible at this time. A trough stretches from 09N110W to 01N110W. A second trough extends from 14N127W to 07N129W. Scattered moderate convection is from 06N to 11N between 110W and 120W. A diffluent pattern aloft is helping to induce this convective activity. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... See the Special Features section for information on the Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event. A 1022 mb high pressure centered near 24N120W will maintain gentle to moderate northwest winds across the offshore waters west of Baja California through Wednesday evening with seas of 4 to 6 ft. On Wednesday night, a cold front will start to push into northern Baja California while strong high pressure builds behind it. This will result in NW winds in the 20-25 kt range off the coast of Baja California Wednesday night through early Friday morning as the pressure gradient increases in that zone. Seas off Baja California will build to 8-10 ft during that period. Winds will also increase to fresh to strong across the Gulf of California with the frontal passage over the northern and central basin Wednesday night through Thursday, and across the southern gulf Thursday afternoon through Thursday night. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... High pressure will prevail over the northwest Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, which will allow for the continuation of fresh to strong gap winds across the Gulf of Papagayo through most of the forecast period with seas 8 to 9 ft. Fresh to strong north to northeast winds are also in the Gulf of Panama and downwind to about 05N through later this morning with seas building up to 8 ft. Otherwise, light to gentle winds and combined seas of 3-5 ft are expected to continue the next several days elsewhere. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1022 mb located near 24N120W will remain nearly stationary over the next 24 hours. A weakening cold front is moving across the NW waters along 30N129W to 20N140W with seas less than 8 ft. The cold front will continue to weaken until dissipating tonight. A reinforcing cold front is entering the NW forecast waters this morning and is expected to reach northern Baja California by Wednesday night. Seas will build to 11 ft across the NW waters in the wake of this front. A third cold front is forecast to reach the NW forecast waters early Friday morning, briefly producing fresh to strong winds N of 29N and building seas of 8-10 ft. $$ NR