000 AXPZ20 KNHC 200944 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Mon May 20 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 0945 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough axis extends from a 1010 mb low centered over Colombia near 07N74W, west-northwestward to across northern Panama and southern Costa Rica to 10N86W, then to a 1008 mb low near 10N91W and to 09N100W to 09N110W and to 08N120W, where overnight scatterometer data indicated that it transitions to the ITCZ and continues to 06N130W and to beyond the area at 05N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is within 180 nm south of the trough between 84W and 87W, within 180 nm either side of the ITCZ between 135W and 140W, and also from 03N to 07N between 87W and 91W. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm south of the trough between 106W and 109W, between 117W and 125W and within 60 nm north of the trough between 110W and 115W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from far northwest Mexico southwestward over the southern half of Baja California Norte to the coast at Punta Eugenia, and continues from there to 02N120W and to near 21N135W. The gradient behind the front as high pressure builds in its wake is bringing moderate to fresh northwest to north over the waters off the Pacific coast of Baja California. Waveheights are presently 5-7 ft, except for higher waveheights of 7-11 ft in northwest swell north of 28N. Over the far northern Gulf of California, strong northwest winds have begin there, while gentle to moderate northwest winds are over the remainder of the Gulf of California, with the exception of extreme southern section where light to gentle winds exist. Waveheights are in the 4-6 ft range over the northern section of the Gulf, 2-4 ft in the central part of the Gulf and 3-5 ft in the southern part due to a southeast swell. The cold front will weaken today as it continues across the rest of Baja California Norte and over northern part of Baja California Sur, where it begins to dissipate. The northwest swell with waveheights of 7-11 ft N of 28N will spread southeastward through offshore waters zone through Wed night, while gradually decaying. A large set of long-period southerly swell will continue to propagate through the Mexican offshore waters through today before it begins to mix with the northwest swell tonight. Like the earlier mentioned cold front, another cold front will move across Baja California Norte and the northern Gulf of California Tue night and early on Wed, then across the rest of Baja California and the Gulf of California from late Wed through Thu while dissipating. Model guidance indicates that this front will be followed by much stronger high pressure than seen in recent days. The associated tight gradient will bring strong northwest winds to the northern offshore waters from Tue night through most of Wed. With these winds, a rather extensive set of long-period swell will infiltrate the northern offshore waters Wed, with waveheights expected to build to the range of 9-12 ft Wed night before slowly decaying through the end of the week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... To the south of the monsoon trough, mainly light to gentle southwest winds are noted, except for gentle to moderate winds south of 05N as indicated in the latest Ascat pass. Little change is expected with these winds through end of the week. To the north of the monsoon trough, light to gentle winds will continue over these waters through the end of the week, with the exception of gentle to moderate east to southeast winds developing over the waters near Guatemala and El Salvador on Thu as the gradient increases to the east of low pressure that persists near 11N91W. Waveheights over these waters are in the 5-8 ft range in a southwest swell. Slightly higher waveheights peaking to 9 ft also due to a southwest swell are over the waters south of 02N, except in the lee of the Galapagos. The waveheights south of 02N are forecast to subside beginning on Wed. The availability of deep atmospheric moisture, along with favorable large scale lift over this region will help contribute to the development of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through the remainder of the week, especially near the low pressure presently centered along the monsoon trough near 10N91W. Some of this shower and thunderstorm activity could produce heavy rain and strong gusty winds. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A cold front analyzed from central Baja California to near 21N135W will continue to move across the waters north of 20N through this afternoon. Recent scatterometer and altimeter satellite data show moderate to fresh northwest winds following the front along with waveheights in the range of 7-11 ft due to northwest swell. High pressure building behind the front is supporting moderate to fresh trade winds farther south into the deep tropics along the ITCZ, with waveheights in the range of 5-7 ft, except for slightly higher waveheights of 6-8 ft from 07N to 18N between 109W and 122W and from 13N to 21N west of 130W from the combination of the northerly swell, southerly swell and local winds. These waveheights will continue through at least Thu as stronger high pressure builds over the area in the wake of another cold front that will sweep across the northeast part of the area Tue night through through Thu before they subside. The pressure gradient between the high pressure behind this front and lower pressure in tropics will allow for the moderate to fresh trade winds to increase in coverage mainly west of about 125W. Convection over this area is limited to that occurring near and along the ITCZ and Monsoon Trough as described above. $$ Aguirre