184 AXPZ20 KNHC 100240 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0240 UTC Wed Apr 10 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 California Gale Warning: Strong high pressure building into the region will result in a northerly surge over the Gulf of California that will produce a brief period of gale force winds over the northern Gulf late tonight. Seas will quickly build to 7-10 ft in this area by Wed morning as winds diminish to near gale force speeds. Elsewhere, a widespread area of strong NW winds will develop over the central Gulf on Wed with seas building to 5-8 ft. 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 08N81W to 06N85W to 1010 mb low pressure near 06N101W. The ITCZ continues from 06N101W to 08N115W to 06N120W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted from 04N to 07N between 85W and 90W, and within 180 nm north of the ITCZ west of 132W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Strong high pressure is centered NW of the region while a ridge extends SE across the outer Baja California offshore waters to the Revillagigedo Islands. Earlier scatterometer data showed fresh to strong northerly winds over the offshore waters north of Punta Eugenia. A tightening pressure gradient will support winds strengthening to near gale force north of Punta Eugenia tonight into Wed with seas building to 10-16 ft. Strong NW winds are expected as far south as Cabo San Lazaro through Wed with seas generally 9-14 ft. Winds will remain fresh north of Cabo San Lazaro through Fri night before diminishing this weekend as the pressure gradient relaxes over the area. Large, long period NW swell has moved beyond the Revillagigedo Islands to as far east as 100W. Expect dangerous surf conditions to persist along the coast of Baja California through Wed night. Gulf of California: Please see the Special Features section above for information about the gale warning in effect for the northern Gulf of California tonight. Gulf of Tehuantepec: A narrow plume of fresh northerly gap winds was evident in earlier scatterometer data across the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Fresh to strong gap winds will persist overnight with seas building to 7-8 ft. Winds will diminish to gentle to moderate speeds on Wed and persist through Sun. Looking ahead, the next potential Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event could begin late Sun night. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Light to moderate winds will prevail in the Gulf of Papagayo region through Sun night, perhaps briefly reaching fresh speeds on Sat. Seas in the 4-6 ft range will gradually subside to 3-5 ft over the weekend. Gulf of Panama: Light to gentle breezes will prevail across the Gulf of Panama region through the weekend. Seas will generally remain in the 4-6 ft range through Fri night in SW swell, then subside to 3-5 ft this weekend. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will persist through the week. Wave heights between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands will generally remain 5-7 ft through Fri as cross equatorial, long period SW swell moves across the region. Further offshore, seas will peak around 8 ft Wed night into Thu over the waters SW of the Galapagos Islands. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A broad area of high pressure extends across the northern waters. Earlier scatterometer passes revealed fresh to strong winds were expanding in coverage across the high seas roughly north of 20N and west of 125W. Earlier altimeter data in this region showed seas ranging from 9-13 ft. South of the ridge, fresh trade winds prevail between 10N and 20N west of 130W. Strong high pressure will persist north of the region through Thu night, maintaining a tight pressure gradient across most of the waters N of 15N. Near gale force N winds will develop just beyond the Baja California Norte offshore waters tonight with seas in this area building to 12-16 ft. A large area of fresh to strong N to NE winds will persist across the northern waters through Fri before diminishing Fri night through the weekend. Seas will remain 12 ft or greater west of 130W through Thu as S swell mixes with shorter period NE wind waves. Long period NW swell continues to propagate SE across the Pacific high seas. This swell now covers most of the waters W of 100W with a band of 8-10 ft seas extending from 04N to 15N west of 105W. This swell will gradually decay through late week. Elsewhere, cross equatorial SW swell across the far southern waters will mix with NW swell tonight through Wed night to produce 8-9 ft seas generally S of 05N between 100W and 120W. $$ Reinhart