000 AXPZ20 KNHC 201005 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Mon Jan 20 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 0830 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure building across the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains, behind a cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico is generating a very tight pressure gradient over the area, and supporting gale force winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Winds are forecast to increase to 45 kt Mon night. This stronger and much broader gale force gap wind event is expected to prevail through Tue night. Seas will peak to 21 ft Mon night during the period of the strongest winds. Swell generated from this event will produce a plume of 8 ft or greater seas that will extend beyond 10N110W. Marine interests transiting across or in the vicinity of the Gulf of Tehuantepec today through Tue night should be aware of this wind event, and take necessary action to avoid hazardous marine conditions over the affected waters. 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 on this Gale Warning. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from near 07N78W to 09N83W to 06N90W to 05N97W. The ITCZ begins near 05N97W and continues along 06N120W to 07N136W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is from 03N to 09N E of 92W, from 04N to 09N between 110W and 115W, and from 06N to 16N W of 129W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see above for more information on a gale force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, forecast to be near storm force later today. Latest scatterometer data show light to gentle northerlies off the coast of Baja California being supported by a weak pressure gradient in the region. Seas across these waters range between 3 to 7 ft as indicated by various ships, which coincide with the latest model guidance. These marine conditions will persist through Tue. By late Tue, a new set of long period NW swell will reach the waters N of Punta Eugenia, building seas to 10 ft. This swell event, with seas of 8 ft or greater will propagate across the entire offshore waters W of Baja California by late Wed, and reach the Revillagigedo Islands by Wed night. Afterwards, seas will gradually decay and subside Fri. High pressure will build over the Great Basin region by Wed night and will support moderate to locally fresh NW winds across the central and southern Gulf of California through Fri. Seas are forecast to be less than 8 ft during this period. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Strong trade winds across the southwest Caribbean will continue to support strong to near gale force NE to E winds across and downstream of the Papagayo region through Thu morning. Winds will be greatest during the overnight and early morning hours with the assistance of the nocturnal drainage flow. Seas will build to 10 ft during the period of peak winds. The strong trades across the southwest Caribbean are also supporting moderate to fresh northerly winds in the Gulf of Panama. These winds will prevail through the end of the week with seas building to 6 ft. Seas of 8 to 15 ft associated with the strong gale gap wind event in the region of Tehuantepec will spread over Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters today through Wed night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Latest scatterometer satellite data indicate a large area of strong to near gale force winds within 180 nm of a low centered near 26N131W. Seas in the vicinity of the low are estimated to be near 12 ft. The low will weaken gradually while it moves east- northeast and dissipate early on Wed as it reaches the waters west of Punta Eugenia in Baja California Norte. The presence of the low pressure over the subtropical region has disrupted the typical subtropical ridge over the area, thus resulting in mainly moderate trade winds over the deep tropics. This is evident in latest scatterometer data that coincide with recent altimeter data showing seas of 8 to 9 ft. A new set of long period NW swell will follow the low center. Seas are expected to build to 12 to 15 ft W of a line from 30N132W by this afternoon. High pressure in the wake of the low center will bring an increase in the trade winds by Tue morning, particularly from 10N to 14N W of 130W. In this area, expect fresh to strong NE trade winds and seas building to 12 or 13 ft. $$ NR