000 AXPZ20 KNHC 080901 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Wed Jan 8 2020 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: High pressure over eastern Mexico is forcing a strong N gale over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Winds will gradually diminish to below gale force by Thu afternoon. Earlier altimeter passes showed 12-16 ft seas in the vicinity of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, though they missed sampling the area where the largest seas likely are which may peak to around 22-24 ft through early this morning. Another gale force wind event is possible late Sat and Sun due to a strong cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico with peak seas reaching around 15 ft. Gulf of Papagayo Gale Warning: A large N-S pressure gradient across Central America is inducing strong to gale force NE winds in the Gulf of Papagayo. The gale force winds are expected to persist through the afternoon. Peak seas are anticipated to reach around 14 ft by the early afternoon. Fresh to near gale NE winds will then prevail through the remainder of the week and into the upcoming weekend. 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 on both Gale Warnings. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough axis extends from the W coast of Colombia near 05N77W to 02N82W to 05N94W. The ITCZ then continues from 05N94W to 06N110W to 1010 mb low pressure near 08N123W to 08N133W to 06N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 04N to 09N between 98W and 104W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted from 06N to 08N between 121W and 130W, and also from 06N to 11N between 136W and 140W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... See the Special Features section for more details about the Gale Warning for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Gulf of California/West of Baja California: A developing low over the S central United States will help induce fresh to strong NW winds just W of N Baja California and in the northern Gulf of California late Thu into early Fri, spreading southward in the Gulf later Fri through Sat. A moderate long-period NW swell may begin impacting the waters east of Baja California on Sun. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... See the Special Features section for more details about the Gale Warning for the Gulf of Papagayo. Moderate W to NW swell generated by gales in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will impact waters off Guatemala through Thu. Gulf of Panama: Fresh N winds in the Gulf of Panama may pulse to strong mainly during the late night and early morning hours through early Fri. Elsewhere, winds and seas will be quiescent for the next several days. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1034 mb is centered NW of the area near 35N147W with ridging extending southeastward toward 16N125W. A tight pressure gradient S of the high pressure is producing fresh to strong trades the W central waters. Because the high may increase to around 1040 mb pressure, the trades are forecast to strengthen and expand in extent by the end of the week into the upcoming weekend. The increasing fetch should build a large area of 12-14 ft seas. A moderate long-period NW swell may begin impacting the waters N of 20N on Sun. $$ Lewitsky