000 AXPZ20 KNHC 122200 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Thu Apr 12 2018 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 2145 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 09N83W to 06N91W. The ITCZ continues from 06N91W to 07N110W to 06N120W to 06N130W to 06N140W. Secondary trough extends from 04S86W to 03.4S100W to 03.4S1110W to 03.4S120W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is within 120 nm south and 60 nm north of the ITCZ between 113W and 116W, and also between 119W and 122W. Similar convection is within 60 nm south of the trough between 89W and 93W. Scattered moderate convection is within 60 nm south of the trough between 87W and 89W, within 60 nm south of the ITCZ between 131W and 133W, and within 30 nm of axis between 128W and 130W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Strong NW winds and large NW swell will move into the waters off Baja California Norte tonight. Strong NW winds are forecast across the length of the Gulf of California from Fri through late Sat night. Strong N to NE gale force winds are forecast to begin across the Gulf of Tehuantepec beginning Sun and through early next week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle winds are expected through the forecast period. Seas in the 2 to 4 ft range will continue, except south of 05N where southerly swell will maintain seas of 3 to 5 ft. Fresh gap winds are possible in the Gulf of Papagayo Thu through Fri. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... The pressure gradient between lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ and high pressure over the northern waters is producing gentle to moderate winds north of the ITCZ and west of 120W. Strong high pressure ridging will build east-southeastward over the northern and central portions through most of Sat, with the resulting tight gradient bringing an increase to the NE to E trades through Sat. NW swell is propagating southeastward across the forecast waters, with seas greater than 8 ft currently west of a line from 32N116W to 19N125W to 10N133W to 09140W. The swell will continue to propagate southeastward, with seas greater than 8 ft covering the waters west of 110W by Sunday night. Time-lapse satellite imagery over a 24 to 48 hour period depicts that atmospheric moisture has been increasing trend over the tropics as weak generally low-level perturbations migrating westward are contributing to the available moisture. As a result, clusters of scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed over the tropics, to include that associated with the surface troughs and ITCZ features as described above. $$ Aguirre