000 AXPZ20 KNHC 200230 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0230 UTC Wed Mar 20 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: Strong winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec will pulse to near gale- force tonight. Winds will pulse to minimal gale force during the overnight hours Wed and Thu night with the additional component of drainage flow. Seas will peak near 12 ft during the period of gale force winds. Please see 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. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 09N79W to 07N90W. The ITCZ continues from 07N90W to 03N110W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection was noted from 04N to 08N between 83W and 87W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection from 06N to 08N between 88W and 95W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please read the Special Features section for more details about the developing Gale Warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Gulf of California: A weak cold front will approach the northern Gulf of California from late tonight into Wednesday. S to SW gap winds will strengthen with the passage of the front. Light to gentle winds prevail elsewhere over the open waters. NW swell will propagate into the waters off the coast of Baja California Norte tonight. The swell will spread southward across the rest of the Baja Peninsula, with seas greater than 8 ft or greater prevailing over this area by Thu before starting to gradually subside. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Winds will pulse to strong during the overnight hours across the Gulf of Papagayo through the forecast period. Gulf of Panama: Northerly winds will freshen over the Gulf of Panama Thursday night through Sun night. Between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, 5-7 ft seas in SW swell will persist through early Wed. Elsewhere, generally light to moderate winds and 3-5 ft seas will prevail for the next several days. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A cold front extends from 30N121W to 25N123W to 22N127W. The front has ushered in a large set of NW swell into the area. Seas are currently peaking near 15 ft over the NW waters. The swell will continue to propagate SE across the waters while subsiding the next couple of days. By Thu afternoon, seas 8 ft or greater will cover the area W of a line from 30N116W to 20N109W to 06N110W to 00N121W. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh trade winds prevail mainly S of 18N and west of 116W to the ITCZ. High pressure building in the wake of the front will bring a slight increase to the trades Wed. Another cold front will approach from the northwest toward the end of the week, ushering in another set of large long period NW. $$ AL