000 AXPZ20 KNHC 300228 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sun Apr 30 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 0215 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough axis extends from 09N84W to 09N91W to 05N110W. The ITCZ extends from 05N110W to 04N120W to 05N130W to 02N140W. Scattered strong convection is occurring from 04N to 09N between 84W and 88W. Scattered moderate convection is within 60 nm of the axis between 117W and 120W, and within 60 nm north of the axis between 125W and 129W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Scatterometer data from Saturday afternoon indicated that the fresh to strong northwest winds that were occurring earlier offshore the coast of Baja California Norte have diminished to the moderate to fresh range. Light to gentle northwest to north winds prevail elsewhere over the forecast waters. Seas are in the 8 to 10 ft range over the coastal waters off the coast of Baja California Norte and 6 to 8 ft off the coast of Baja California Sur. The moderate to fresh northwest winds will diminish further to the light to gentle range on Monday, with seas subsiding to 5 to 6 ft. Gulf of California: Ascat data from Saturday afternoon depicted a swath of fresh to strong northwest to north winds over the northern sector of the Gulf with seas in the range of 5 to 7 ft. Moderate to fresh northwest winds are over the central sector of the Gulf, while gentle to moderate northwest winds are over the remainder of the Gulf. Seas are in the range of 3 to 4 ft in the central sector and 2 to 3 ft in the southern sector except in the entrance to the Gulf where seas are 4 to 5 ft. The fresh to strong northwest winds are shifting southward to the central sector this evening, then diminish to the fresh range early on Sunday as the gradient weakens. By Monday, winds are expected to be light and variable over much of the Gulf, except light to gentle northwest winds over the southern sector, with seas of 2 to 4 ft south of 25N, and 1 to 2 ft north of 25N. Gulf of Tehuantepec: Gentle to moderate south to southwest flow will continue through Sunday night, then the flow becomes northerly at fresh category on Monday as the gradient tightens over southeastern Mexico with the passage of a cold front across the western Gulf of Mexico. Seas will be in the range of 5 to 6 ft into early on Monday, then build to 6 to 7 ft during Monday afternoon. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle winds will prevail trough early next week under a weak pressure pattern, with seas of about 5 to 6 ft except for slighter higher seas of 6 to 7 ft over the offshore waters west of Colombia. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A nearly stationary high pressure system of 1031 mb centered north of the area near 36N135W extends a ridge southeastward to 27N127W to near 21N120W. The pressure gradient between the area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is maintaining gentle to moderate trades north of the ITCZ, with seas in the 6 to 8 ft range in a southwest swell. Northerly swell continues to propagate into the northern waters bringing combined seas of 8 to 10 ft within an area bounded by 32N128W to 32N116W to 22N115W to 20N120W to 22N134W to 32N128W. The northerly swell will begin to mix with southwest swell on Sunday to the north of 24N between 122W and 132W, and within an area bounded by 32N128W to 32N122W to 26N127W to 26N133W to 32N128W on Monday. Cross-equatorial southwest swell has propagated into the southern portion of the discussion area to the south of 09.5N between 104W and 115W, and also to the south of 02N between 94W and 104W with seas in the 7 to 8 ft. This swell will shrink in coverage through Sunday. Yet another round of southwest swell will propagate into the far southern waters beginning Sunday night through Monday, with seas in the range of 7 to 8 ft. Weak low-level westward moving perturbations continue across the ITCZ region under mid/upper level ridging. The combination of these features along with occasional disturbances aloft riding along a relatively pronounced jet stream branch is allowing for clusters of scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop from time to time across this area, although dry aloft has intruded into the deep tropics keeping the activity to a minimum for the time being. Latest satellite imagery shows that the most concentrated of this activity remains confined to the eastern portion of the tropics between 84W and 88W as described above under the ITCZ/Monsoon Trough section, and also from just inland Colombia west from there to 80W. Heavy rainfall with possible flooding is occurring from within 70 miles inland the Colombian coast from 70 miles southwest of Buenaventura north to near 04N77W. The added factors of upper level diffluence present across this portion of the area as noted in upper level streamline analysis as well as in the trajectory of high level clouds within this area is helping to sustain this deep convective activity. In addition, a kelvin wave moved through the ITCZ region during the past several days helping to give addition momentum and support to the aforementioned convective activity. The satellite representation of this activity appears more like what is expected during the month of May for that portion of the area. The activity is expected to persist into early next week. $$ Aguirre