000 AXPZ20 KNHC 180307 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 213 UTC Tue Feb 18 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0200 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 05N77W to 0N82W to 03N89W. The ITCZ begins near 03N90W and continues along 05N110W to 08N130W, then resumes near 08N133W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate convection is from 04N to 08N between 107W and 125W, and from 09N to 16N between 119W and 126W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A high pressure ridge extends SE from the NE Pacific to the Baja California Norte offshore waters. A weak pressure gradient over the region will support gentle to moderate NW winds along the Gulf of California and the Baja California offshore waters through early Sat. High pressure will develop over the Great Basin afterwards, which will support moderate to fresh NW winds off the Baja peninsula and along the gulf during the remainder weekend. Long period NW swell with seas to 10 ft will propagate SE across the Baja offshores Sat and Sun. Moderate N winds in the Tehuantepec region will prevail through Tue evening. Strong N gap winds will resume Wed morning and persist through Sun. Gale force winds are expected by Fri morning as a strong ridge builds in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a cold front. Gale conditions will prevail through Sat evening. Otherwise, light to gentle winds will prevail elsewhere this week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Strong to near gale force NE to E winds, highest overnights, will continue over and downwind of the Papagayo region through the weekend. These winds will support seas in the 8-10 ft range. Fresh to strong N winds will also occur in and S of the Gulf of Panama through the weekend with seas building to 8 ft at night. Light and variable winds will prevail elsewhere. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A middle-level low will continue to support a surface trough moving westward over the tropical waters W of 125W. Strong NE to E winds will prevail in the vicinity of the trough through Tue before decreasing to moderate to fresh speeds. Mixed NE and NW swell will support seas up to 11 ft from 05N to 25N W of 123W. The trough will move W of the area Wed morning and the swell will decay by Thu. A weakening cold front will move into the NW forecast waters Wed, then dissipate by Fri. Fresh to locally strong winds will follow the front with seas building to 13 ft N of 28N between 122W and 129W Fri night. The ridge building behind the front will support fresh to strong NE winds from 10N to 24N W of 120W over the weekend. Seas are expected to build to 15 ft over this region during that period. $$ Ramos