000 AXPZ20 KNHC 270232 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Tue Mar 26 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 0200 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A strong pressure gradient in southern Mexico is supporting gale force gap winds funneling through the Chivela Pass into Tehuantepec. Gales are expected to persist through Thu as high pressure builds southward across eastern Mexico behind a cold front. Winds will approach 40-45 kt during late night and early morning hours. Wave heights will peak around 17-18 ft Wed morning. Swell generated by this high wind event will propagate well downstream to beyond 100W. 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. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 05N77W to 06N86W. The ITCZ extends from 06N86W to 06N93W to 02N108W to 03N135W to 06N140W. Scattered moderate rain showers are from 02N to 04N between 120W and 124W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Gulf of Tehuantepec: Please refer to the Special Features section for more information on a Gale Warning currently in effect. Winds will diminish below gale force Thu afternoon. Gulf of California: Relatively tranquil conditions will prevail through Fri, with light winds and seas less than 3 ft. Moderate northerly flow will persist west of Baja California Norte through Wed night. Residual swell over the region will continue to decay through Wed. Strong high pressure will build southward on Thu, inducing fresh NW winds in the Baja California Norte offshores Thu night through Fri night and 8-11 ft seas. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Strong NE to E winds will continue over the Gulf of Papagayo through Fri. Strongest winds will be during late night and early morning hours. Highest seas will be 10-11 ft Wed and Thu. NE swell will propagate well downstream from Papagayo through Fri night. Gulf of Panama: N to NE winds in the Gulf of Panama will strengthen through Wed night as high pressure builds in the Caribbean. A combination of NE wind waves and cross-equatorial SW swell will produce 6-8 ft seas well downstream from Panama. Southern hemisphere swell will continue to impact Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands through the end of the week. Seas will build to 7-8 ft south of the Galapagos by Wed. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A cold front will move into the far NW portion of the forecast area tonight. NW swell associated with the front will impact the northern waters through midweek. Another cold front will stall just NW of the forecast area on Fri. The gradient between a high near 28N123W and lower pressure associated with the ITCZ is supporting moderate to fresh NE to E trade winds. Altimeter data suggests 8-11 ft seas are found from 03N to 20N west of 110W, the result of long period NW swell and NE wind waves. Trade winds will strengthen Thu high pressure builds north of 30N. Elsewhere, NW swell is maintaining an area of 8 ft or greater seas W of 105W. NE swell generated by gap winds in the Gulfs of Papagayo and Tehuantepec will merge with NW swell and cross- equatorial SW swell, resulting in a large area of 8-10 ft seas in mixed swell S of 15N and west of 92W later in the week. $$ Mundell