000 AXPZ20 KNHC 062121 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2120 UTC Thu Feb 6 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2100 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 05N77W to 02N81W to 04N86W to 04N117W. The ITCZ extends from 04N117W to 08N125W to beyond 07N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 60 nm of the trough between 85W and 87W, and within 90 nm north of the ITCZ between 127W and 130W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Scatterometer data from earlier today showed an area of fresh to locally strong northerly winds off the coast of Cabo Corrientes. Moderate to fresh winds were noted over the Baja California Sur offshore waters and the southern Gulf of California, south of a ridge axis that extends eastward across the waters west of Punta Eugenia. Elsewhere, gentle flow prevailed across the remaining forecast waters. Fresh to strong NW to N winds will continue along the coast of Jalisco tonight, then diminish by Fri morning. Seas will continue subsiding west of Baja California as northerly swell decays over the region. High pressure building in behind a cold front over the western Gulf of Mexico will generate strong N winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec Fri. An approaching cold front may result in strong winds Sun night over the northern Gulf of California. Seas will build over the Baja California offshore waters early next week as NW swell propagates across the region. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Earlier scatterometer data revealed light to gentle winds across most of the forecast waters, except for moderate N winds noted over the Gulf of Panama. Wave heights remain less than 8 ft across the region. Fresh winds will prevail across the Papagayo region tonight, then pulse to strong speeds Fri night through early next week. Fresh winds will continue pulsing over the Gulf of Panama region through early next week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A surface high pressure ridge prevails across the northern waters this afternoon. Recent scatterometer data highlighted an area of moderate to fresh NE trade winds west of 115W between this ridge and the ITCZ. Corresponding altimeter data indicated seas were running 8-10 ft within the strongest trades, likely mixed in decaying N swell. A mid to upper-level low pressure system is noted on satellite imagery centered near 27N137W, but no surface reflection is noted in scatterometer winds over this region. A cold front will approach the NW waters and stall west of 140W this weekend, resulting in strengthening winds and building seas north of the ITCZ and west of 135W. Elsewhere, a set of NW to N swell will move into the northern waters Sun through early next week in association with an approaching cold front. $$ Reinhart