000 AXPZ20 KNHC 121526 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1234 UTC Fri Apr 12 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of California Gale Warning: Minimal gale force winds and seas to 8 ft will continue to affect the northern Gulf of California this morning. Winds will quickly diminish to 15 to 25 kt around 1800 UTC, with seas subsiding to 4 to 5 ft. 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 08N82W to 06N98W. The ITCZ continues from 06N98W to 06N114W to 05N120W to 03N140W. A cluster of moderate to isolated strong convection is noted from 05N to 07N between 94W and 97W. Scattered moderate convection is from 04N to 07N between 82W and 92W. As it is normal for this time of the year, a second ITCZ is observed S of the Equator. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A ridge, anchored on a strong 1037 mb high pressure located near 36N143W, dominates the offshore forecast waters off Baja California. A tight pressure gradient between the ridge and a low pressure center over Arizona supports fresh to strong NW winds across the waters N of Punta Eugenia. Seas generated by an area of gale force winds off California are also reaching the waters N of Punta Eugenia, with sea heights of 10 to 15 ft in NW swell. Moderate to fresh NW to N winds and seas of 8 to 9 ft are affecting the offshore waters between Punta Eugenia and the Revillagigedo Islands. These marine conditions are forecast to gradually improve during the upcoming weekend as the high pressure weakens and moves westward. Gulf of California: Please see the Special Features section above for information about the gale warning in effect for the northern Gulf of California this morning. Gulf of Tehuantepec: The next gap wind event across the Tehuantepec region is expected Sun night into Mon as a ridge builds across the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico, behind a cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico. Winds are forecast to suddenly increase to 35-40 kt, with seas building to 12 or 13 ft by early Mon morning. Climatologically, the first gale-force event of a season occurs in mid-October, with the final gale-force event occurring in late March or early April. Occasionally, gale force events may occur as early as September and as late as May. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Gentle to moderate winds will prevail across the Gulf through Sun. Then, winds will increase to a fresh to strong breeze Sun night through Tue night as high pressure builds N of the area. Seas are forecast to build to near 8 ft with the strongest winds. Gulf of Panama: Mainly light to gentle wind will prevail across the area the next several days. Seas will generally remain in the 4 to 6 ft range during the entire period due to long period SW swell. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will persist the next several days. Wave heights between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands will generally remain in the 5 to 7 ft range in long period SW swell. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... As previously mentioned, a strong high pressure of 1037 mb located near 36N143W dominates the forecast waters N of 15N and W of 110W. Under the influence of this system, scatterometer data indicate a large area of fresh to strong northerly winds covering the waters W of a line from 30N116W to 20N125W to 10N130W, with seas of 10 to 14 ft based on altimeter data. Winds and seas are forecast to gradually diminish across the area during the upcoming weekend as the high pressure weakens and moves westward. A new set of long period NW swell will reach the NW corner of the forecast region by Sat. At this time, seas of 8 to 9 ft are expected N of 20N W of 113W, and from 05N to 20N W of 128W. Cross equatorial SW swell will bring seas to 8 ft S of 02.5S between 95W and 110W on Sat, and S of 02S between 104W and 115W on Sun. $$ GR