000 AXPZ20 KNHC 080340 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Tue Jan 8 2019 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 0230 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: Fresh gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will increase to near gale force tonight, as high pressure builds across the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico. Winds will further increase to gale force across the Gulf waters on Tuesday evening, as strong high pressure expands eastward across the entire Gulf of Mexico. Gale conditions will prevail through Thursday night, with wind speeds decreasing to strong Friday morning and below advisory criteria on Friday afternoon. Please see the latest High Seas Forecast product under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFEP2/FZPN03 KNHC for more details. Cold front Gale Warning: A cold front is over the NW forecast waters along 30N136W to 27N140W. Strong to minimal gale force SW winds are within 120 nm east of the front. Strong to gale force west to northwest winds are west of the front with seas to 21 ft. The combination of wind waves and long period NW swell will support seas up to 26 ft by Tue afternoon. Gale conditions west of the front will persist through Tue afternoon. Please see the latest High Seas Forecast product under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFEP2/FZPN03 KNHC for more details. .INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from the coast of Colombia near 06N77W to 07N85W to 04N94W. The ITCZ continues from 04N94W to 06N120W to 04N130W to beyond 05N140W. Scattered moderate convection is within 90 nm S of the trough and ITCZ between 84W and 97W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A ridge dominates the offshore forecast waters W of Baja California peninsula, producing mainly gentle to moderate northerly winds with seas of 8-9 ft in NW swell. The ridge will persist across the area through Fri morning. A cold front moving across the open waters west of Baja California tonight and Tue will bring a new set of long period NW swell on Wednesday morning, with sea heights ranging from 8 feet to 16 feet. This swell will spread SE across the offshore waters of Baja California through Friday. Moderate NE winds will dominate the region with this second swell event. Gulf of California: NW winds of 15 to 20 kt prevail over the central and southern Gulf and are expected to extend to most of the Gulf of California waters through Fri morning. Gulf of Tehuantepec: Please, see Special Features section for details. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Fresh to strong NE to E winds are expected across and downstream of the Gulf of Papagayo through Tue night. Winds will pulse again Wed night and continue through the weekend. Gulf of Panama: Moderate to fresh N winds are in the gulf and downstream to near 05N with seas to 6 ft. Winds will become gentle to moderate Tue night and increase again to 15-20 kt continuing through the weekend. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A cold front is moving across the NW forecast waters along 30N136W to 27N140W. Gale force winds are ahead and west of the front with seas to 21 ft. See the special features section for further details. A 1022 mb high pressure centered near 29N122W extends a ridge across the northern forecast waters east of the cold front. The high will remain nearly stationary and dissipate by Fri as the cold front moves eastward towards Baja California. A stronger cold front is forecast to reach the NW corner of the area on Thu morning, followed by another set of long period NW swell. Strong to gale force SW winds are expected ahead and west of the front continuing through early Fri. Winds will diminish below advisory criteria on Fri morning, however seas of 8 to 17 ft will continue to affect the northern forecast waters through early in the weekend. $$ Ramos