183 AXPZ20 KNHC 150936 CCA TWDEP Corrected issuance time in header Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 912 UTC Mon Apr 15 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0900 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: Satellite-derived wind data from around 0230Z indicates a gale force gap wind event has already ramped up over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The gale force winds are expected to last until this afternoon as a ridge builds S along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico in the wake of cold front currently crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Winds are likely peaking at present near 40 kt. Corresponding seas will build as high as 13 or 14 ft. Winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec will subside tonight and Tue as high pressure over the Gulf of Mexico shifts E. Another strong cold front entering the Gulf of Mexico could cause gales to return to the Gulf of Tehuantepec Fri night. 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 09N84W to 04N98W to 07N112W to 06N121W. The ITCZ continues from 06N121W to 07N130W to beyond 05N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted from 05N to 09N E of 90W and from 05N to 07N W of 130W. Scattered moderate convection is present within 45 nm either side of a line from 07.5N104.5W to 09N114W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A ridge that continues dominating the offshore forecast waters W of Baja California will produce mainly gentle to moderate NW to N winds through Fri night. Expect moderate to locally fresh winds Tue night through Wed night across the waters N of Cabo San Lazaro as the ridge strengthens slightly. NW swell affecting the waters N of Punta Eugenia are decaying. Seas W of Baja California Norte have subsided to 6 to 7 ft, and will generally remain in this range during the next several days. Gulf of California: A trough will move across northern Baja California and the northern portion of the Gulf of California late Mon and Tue. Fresh to strong SW to W winds are expected ahead of the trough and mainly N of 30N. Farther south, a cold front currently moving across the eastern Gulf of Mexico is supporting a late season gap wind event across the Tehuantepec region that will persist through Mon night. Please see the Special Features section for more details. Another gap wind event is possible beginning Fri night. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Winds will increase between fresh and strong late tonight through Wed, particularly during the overnight and early morning hours. Sea heights to near 8 ft are expected with the strongest winds. Gulf of Panama: Gentle to moderate winds are expected across the Gulf of Panama through Tue. Then, winds will increase to moderate to fresh speeds Tue night and Wed. Seas will generally remain in the 3 to 5 ft range through Tue, building to 5 to 7 ft Tue night into Wed due to increasing winds combined with SW swell. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will persist the next several days. Light to moderate S to SW winds will prevail over the waters W of Ecuador through Fri night. 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... A ridge extends across the northern forecast waters from high pressure centered north of the Hawaiian Islands. This system continues to gradually weaken which is allowing winds to diminish across the portion of the discussion area N of the ITCZ and W of 125W. Trade winds are forecast to increase again Tue and Wed W of 125W as the pressure gradient increases in response to a surface trough developing in the vicinity of 120W. Cross equatorial SW swell are decaying but will remain just high enough to maintain seas around 8 ft generally S of 02S between 110W and 120W through tonight. $$ CAM