217 AXPZ20 KNHC 010343 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 204 UTC Sat Sep 1 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0300 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Hurricane Norman continues to slowly weaken but it is still a Category 3 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next 24 hours but Norman is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through the early part of next week. At 01/0300 UTC, Norman is centered near 16.3N 122.2W moving W-SW or 250 degrees at 7 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 958 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 105 kt with gusts to 130 kt. Numerous moderate and scattered strong convection is seen within 60 nm NE and 90 nm SW semicircles of center. Numerous moderate convection is noted elsewhere from 14N to 17N between 121W and 125W. See latest NHC forecast/advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATCMEP1/WTPZ21 KNHC for more details. The low pressure previously located near 14N106W is upgraded to Tropical Depression Seventeen-E at 01/0300 UTC. At this time, the tropical depression is located near 14.3N 108.4W moving W-NW or 285 degrees at 9 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 30 kt with gusts to 40 KT. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm on Saturday. Numerous moderate and scattered strong convection is noted from 13.5N to 15.5N between 109W and 111W. Numerous moderate convection is elsewhere from 12N to 17N between 107W and 112W. See latest NHC forecast/ advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATCMEP2/WTPZ22 KNHC for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave is along 99W N of 06N moving west at 5 to 10 kt. Convection is limited near the wave axis. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough axis extends from 09N83W to 09N90W to 13N97W to 14N105W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is within 150 nm S of trough between 85W and 96W. Similar convection is also noted from 08N to 11N between 102W and 106W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A ridge dominates the forecast waters N of 20N W of 120W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and a trough near the Baja Peninsula will support moderate NW winds along the coast of Baja California. Winds will become gentle Sat through Mon as the gradient weakens. Expect seas to around 8 ft in NE swell across the waters N of Punta Eugenia. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds will prevail in offshore waters of Mexico the next few days with 3-6 ft seas. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... The monsoon trough will linger near 10N the next few days. Winds on both sides of the trough axis will be gentle to moderate, and seas of 4 to 6 feet are expected through Sunday. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Another Tropical Depression has formed in the Eastern Pacific basin named T.D. Seventeen-E. West of this Tropical Depression is Hurricane Norman. Please, see Special Features section for details. Hurricane Miriam is just W of area near 20.1N 141.0W at 01/0300Z but it is still producing winds in the 20 to 30 kt range and seas of 10 to 16 ft across the forecast waters from 16N to 22N W of 137W. Otherwise, a ridge dominates the forecast waters N of 20N W of 120W. Swell generated by the above mentioned tropical cyclones will produce seas of 8 ft or greater across much of the waters W of 110W through Sun. $$ GR