000 AXPZ20 KNHC 060309 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 026 UTC Wed Mar 6 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 0300 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A strong ridge extending southward across the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico is supporting a gap wind event across the Tehuantepec region. Winds funneling through the Chivela Pass are reaching gale force across the Gulf of Tehuantepec where sea heights are in the 10 to 14 ft range. Winds are forecast to peak 40 kt tonight through Wed night, with seas building to near 20 feet early Wed morning. Minimal gale conditions are forecast to persist through Thu morning. NE to E swell associated with this gap wind event combined with a strong winds over the Gulf of Papagayo will produce a very large area of seas 8 ft or greater that will extend westward to near 110W by Thu evening. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center under AWIPS/WMO headers FZPN03 KNHC/HSFEP2 or at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for further details about these gale warnings. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The Intertropical Convergence Zone axis extends from 04N88W to 01N110W to 02N130W to 05N140W. No significant convection is noted. A second ITCZ is analyzed S of the Equator. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Gulf of Tehuantepec: A Gale Warning is in effect for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Please read the Special Features section for details. Gulf of California: Developing low pressure over the U.S. Great Basin will support nocturnal pulsing of fresh to locally strong SW to W in the northern Gulf of California Thu night and Fri night. Generally tranquil marine conditions are expected elsewhere across the Gulf through at least Sat night. Weak high pressure will dominate the offshore forecast waters off Baja California. By Wed night, a weakening cold front will reach Baja California Norte with minimal impacts. Conditions should remain benign W of Baja California for the next several days. No large long-period swell is anticipated to affect the region. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulfs of Fonseca, Papagayo, and Panama: A moderate to strong pressure gradient in the W Caribbean combined with nocturnal drainage flow will support strong gap wind events across the Gulf of Papagayo and Panama beginning tonight. Strong to near gale force winds are expected across the Gulf of Papagayo and downwind to near 91W, with seas building up to 11 ft. Fresh to strong northerly winds are forecast across the Panama and downwind to near 04.5N81W with seas of 8 to 9 ft by Wed night. In addition, an area of fresh to strong easterly winds are also expected roughly from 06N to 10N between 90W and 105W. These marine conditions will persist through Thu night, also causing strong breeze conditions in the Gulf of Fonseca. Elsewhere, NE swells generated by the gap wind events in the Gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo will spread SW and then W reaching roughly the waters from 03N to 13N between 90W and 110W by Thursday night. NE swell generated by a strengthening gap wind event in the Gulf of Panama will propagate SW toward the Galapagos Islands later in the week with seas building to 5-7 ft. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A cold front enters the forecast waters near 30N125W and continues SW to near 21N135. A secondary front follows the front and stretches from 30N128W to 25N135W. Winds associated with these features have diminished below gale force. Currently, fresh to strong W to NW winds dominate the waters N of 27N between 129W and 137W with seas of 10 to 14 ft. The front will continue to move eastward across the northern forecast region reaching a position from 30N120W TO 23N126W by Wed evening. At that time, winds are forecast to diminish to 20 kt or less, but the NW swell behind the front will continue to propagate SE across the forecast area while gradually subsiding. $$ GR