000 AXPZ20 KNHC 140251 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 251 UTC Sun Apr 14 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 0300 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The next gap wind event across the Tehuantepec region is expected Sun night and Mon as a ridge builds south along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico behind a cold front crossing the western Gulf of Mexico. Winds are forecast to abruptly increase to between 35 and 40 kt. Corresponding seas will build as high as 13 or 14 ft by early Mon. Winds and seas will diminish starting late Mon as the high pressure north of the region shifts eastward. 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 the coast of Colombia near 06N77W to 09N110W. The ITCZ continues from 09N110W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 04N to 07N between 80W and 90W. Scattered moderate convection from 07N to 10N between 105W and 120W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A ridge extends across the waters north of 20N, maintaining gentle to moderate winds. NW swell will continue to move into the waters off Baja California. A trough will move across Baja California and the northern portion of the Gulf of California Mon. Strong westerly gap winds will follow the trough into the northern Gulf of California along roughly 30N. Farther south, a cold front will moving through the western Gulf of Mexico will support late season gap wind gale event across the Tehuantepec region Sun night and Mon. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Moderate to fresh NE to E winds will prevail across the Gulf through Mon. Then, winds will increase to a fresh to strong breeze Mon night through Wed as high pressure builds N of the area. Sea heights to near 8 ft are expected 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 3 to 5 ft range through Tue, building to 4 to 6 ft Tue night through Wed night 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 ridge extends across the northern forecast waters from a 1032 mb high located near 34N147W. This system has weakened some since yesterday. As a result, winds have diminished to 20 kt or less across the waters N of 10N W of 120W. Seas in this region are in the 8 to 10 in residual NW swell. Winds and seas will continue to diminish into Mon as the high weakens and retreats W. Cross equatorial SW swell will bring seas to 8 ft S of 02S between 105W and 120W through Sun. $$ Christensen