000 AXPZ20 KNHC 051603 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Tue Feb 5 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The equatorial trough extends from a 1009 mb low over NW Colombia to 06N77W to 05N83W. The ITCZ extends from 05N83W to 04N110W to 04N130W to 07N140W. Scattered moderate convection is from 03N to 07N between 102W and 113W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A dissipating cold front extends across the northern Baja California offshore waters just north of the Sebastian Vizcaino Bay supporting seas of 7 to 8 ft in NW swell ahead of the front to near the Revillagigedo Islands. A reinforcing cold front starts to enter the Baja California Norte offshores waters this morning with a second set of NW swell supporting seas of 8 to 9 ft today. The first front will dissipate later today. The reinforcing front will start to weaken tonight just N of Punta Eugenia and then will dissipate early on Wed near Cabo San Lazaro. Seas of 8 to 13 ft behind this front will affect the waters off Baja California Norte through Wed evening while seas in the range of 8 to 11 ft will prevail in the offshores of Baja California Sur through Thu, subsiding to less than 8 ft on Fri morning. For the Gulf of California, the dissipating cold front continue to support strong SW winds over the waters N of 29.5N. Strong winds will increase to near gale force this evening as the reinforcing cold front moves across the northern gulf waters. A ridge will start to build over central California on Wed morning, thus supporting NW strong to near gale force winds N of 29.5N. A new ridge will build over the Great Basin early on Thu and will induce strong NW winds in much of the central and southern Gulf Thu and Fri. Farther south, along the offshores between Jalisco and Oaxaca, Mexico gentle NW flow and slight to moderate seas persist and are forecast to continue through early in the weekend. Looking ahead, strong gap winds will commence Fri morning in Gulf of Tehuantepec in response to high pressure building behind a cold front moving into southern Mexico. Gap winds may reach strong gale force by Fri night with downstream seas building to 17-19 ft. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: A moderate pressure gradient in the western Caribbean is supporting fresh to strong NE winds. Strongest winds are expected during overnight and early morning hours from nocturnal drainage flow. Sea heights will peak at around 7-8 ft. Strong to near gale force winds are expected Tue night through Thu night, with seas building up to 9-10 ft. Gulf of Panama: Fresh to strong N to NE winds will prevail in the Gulf of Panama through Sun with sea heights building to 11 ft over the weekend. Looking ahead, a tight pressure gradient is forecast to develop across the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea Fri night and Sat, resulting in gale force winds in the Gulf of Papagayo early Sat through early in the afternoon. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate breezes will persist through Sun. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Moderate N-NE winds prevail behind a cold front reaching from 30N120W to 26N130W to 27N140W. Long period NW swell follows this front with building seas to 14 ft north of 25N through Wed. The front will weaken today and dissipate early on Wed N of 20N. Strong high pressure will build north of the area behind the cold front. The gradient between the strong high and developing low pressure north of Hawaii will support fresh to strong easterly winds from 10N to 17N W of 121W Wed night through Fri. $$ NR