000 AXPZ20 KNHC 220923 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 659 UTC Fri Mar 22 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0845 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A tight pressure gradient over SE Mexico is generating minimal gale force winds and seas to 13 ft over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. By mid afternoon today winds will diminish to near gale force, then continue to diminish through Sat morning as the gradient slackens. Seas downstream from the Gulf of Tehuantepec will slowly diminish to below 8 ft by Sun afternoon as NW and SW swell help maintain combined seas between 04N and 12N between 94W and 108W. A prolonged gap wind gale event could run next week from Mon to Thu. 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 specific marine details on this ongoing event. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough extends from a 1010 mb low centered over NW Colombia near 09N74W to the coast at 07N77W to 04N90W, where it transitions to the ITCZ and continues to 02N102W to 04N130W to beyond the discussion area at 04N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is seen from 02N to 05N between 89W and 91W, from 03N to 05N between 91W and 103W and from 05N to 08N between 122W and 128W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please read the Special Features section for more details concerning the ongoing Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind gale event. Gulf of California: Fairly quiet conditions will continue through early next week, with seas remaining in the 1-3 ft range. High pressure measuring 1025 mb currently centered near 28N128W will continue to generate fresh to strong winds along the Pacific Coast of the Baja Peninsula N of 24N through this afternoon, before winds diminish to mainly fresh speeds this weekend as the high gradually weakens. By early Sun, NW to N winds west of Baja California are expected to be mainly in the moderate to fresh range along with seas of 8 to 11 ft as another round of NW swell arrives in the Pacific offshore waters. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Winds will pulse from strong to near gale speeds each night between the late night and early morning hours assisted by nocturnal drainage flow through Tue night. These winds are forecast to continue into the afternoon hours through the upcoming weekend. Gulf of Panama: Fresh winds will pulse to strong at night over the Gulf of Panama through Sat night. Peak wave heights are expected to reach 8 or 9 ft where winds are strongest. Between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, 4-5 ft seas in mixed swell will build to the range of 5-7 ft during the upcoming weekend as both long period SW and NW swell arrive. Light to moderate winds and 3-5 ft seas will be the general rule elsewhere through the upcoming weekend. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure over the NW portion of the discussion area will remain strong enough to maintain strong trade winds over the waters generally between 07N and 11N W of 125W through Mon. Cold fronts will continue to usher in rounds of long period NW swell to the northwestern waters. These swell will generally maintain seas at or above 8 ft for the waters N of 04N and W of 110W through Monday. Seas near 30N 140w will peak around 15 ft Fri and around 14 ft Sun. $$ CAM