000 AXPZ20 KNHC 102131 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2130 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2100 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of California Gale Warning: Recent scatterometer data confirmed that winds over the northern Gulf of California have diminished below gale force. Fresh to near gale force winds were depicted over the central Gulf as strong high pressure continues building into the region from the NW behind a weakening cold front. Winds will gradually diminish across the region through Thu. Looking ahead, SW to W gap winds may strengthen to gale force from 29.5N to 30.5N on Thu night due to funneling through Baja California Norte ahead of an approaching trough or front. Gale headlines will be maintained to account for this event. 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 09N84W to 07N94W. The ITCZ extends from 07N94W to 09.5N115W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 03N to 09N between 80W and 90W, from 09N to 11N between 112W and 115W, from 09N to 11N between 122W and 126W, and within 180 nm north of the ITCZ west of 135W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Strong 1042 mb high pressure NW of the region maintains a broad ridge extending SE near the outer Baja California offshore waters to the Revillagigedo Islands. Partial scatterometer data over the Baja California Sur offshore waters revealed fresh to locally strong winds north of Cabo San Lazaro. Recent altimeter data in this region showed 10-14 ft seas off Baja California Sur, while seas up to 16 ft were noted off Baja California Norte per earlier altimeter data. Winds will remain fresh north of Cabo San Lazaro through Fri night before diminishing this weekend as the pressure gradient relaxes over the area. Long period NW swell across much of the region west of 100W will gradually decay through late week. Gulf of California: Please see the Special Features section above for information about the gale warning in effect for the northern Gulf of California Thu night. Gulf of Tehuantepec: Gentle to moderate winds will prevail across the Gulf of Tehuantepec region through Sun. Winds in the Gulf will transition to onshore tonight through Sun morning. Looking ahead, the next Gulf of Tehuantepec northerly gap wind event is expected late Sun night into Mon as strong to near gale force winds develop across the Gulf. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Light to moderate, generally onshore winds will prevail across the Gulf of Papagayo region and adjacent offshore waters through Thu night before shifting offshore Fri through Sun night. Seas in the 4-6 ft range will gradually subside to 3-5 ft over the weekend. Looking ahead, fresh NE to E winds are expected across the Gulf Mon and Mon night. Gulf of Panama: Light to gentle breezes will prevail across the Gulf of Panama region through Mon. 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 in cross equatorial, long period SW swell. Further offshore, seas will peak around 8 ft Thu night and Fri over the waters SW of the Galapagos Islands. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A strong high pressure ridge extends across the northern waters from 1042 mb high pressure centered NW of the region. Recent scatterometer data showed a broad area of strong NE winds and peak winds to 30 kt within the enhanced pressure gradient generally north of 20N and west of 120W. Elsewhere, fresh to locally strong trade winds prevail south of the ridge as far south as the ITCZ. North of 20N, seas are likely running in the 10-14 ft range with 8-10 ft seas southward to the ITCZ. A tight pressure gradient will prevail north of 15N through Thu night as strong high pressure persists north of the region. 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 NE wind waves mix with S and NW swell. Long period NW swell maintains a band of 8-10 ft seas across much of the high seas from roughly 05N to 15N west of 105W. East of 120W, wave heights will gradually subside through late week as this swell decays over the region. Elsewhere, recent altimeter data showed a region of 8-9 ft seas south of the Equator and west of 110W in mixed SW and NW swell. Seas to 8 ft will likely persist over the far southern waters through the weekend in continued cross equatorial SW swell. $$ Reinhart