000 AXPZ20 KNHC 290243 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sat Feb 29 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 0130 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure extending from the western Gulf of Mexico southward across eastern Mexico is supporting a strong pressure gradient across the Chivela Pass. An earlier scatterometer pass indicated northerly gale force winds across the area which are forecast to continue through Sat night. Seas across this area will peak around 18-21 ft tonight. Seas will subside by the end of the weekend as the gale force winds diminish. Looking ahead, another gale force gap wind event is possible Wed night. Gulf of Papagayo Gale Warning: A strong pressure gradient across Central America and the western Caribbean is supporting near gale force winds across the Papagayo region as noted by an earlier scatterometer pass. Winds are forecast to increase to minimal gale force later tonight, then continue into early Sun before diminishing Sun afternoon. Winds will remain strong through early next week. Seas will build to 12-15 ft by early Sat. Pacific High Seas Gale Warning: A broad mid to upper-level trough W of 140W is inducing a surface trough which is analyzed from 22N134W to 16N138W, and another surface trough analyzed from 12N136W to 07N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is within 18N133W to 11N129W to 08N130W to 10N139W to 18N133W. The enhanced pressure gradient between this troughing and very strong high pressure building NW of the region is supporting fresh to near gale force winds which are forecast to strengthen to minimal gale force by late Sat afternoon. These winds will continue into early Sun before shifting W of 140W along with the surface troughing. Associated seas will build to 12-17 ft within the strongest winds. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center under AWIPS/WMO headers FZPN03/HSFEP2 NHC or at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for further details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The ITCZ extends from 07N84W to 02N97W to 02N113W to 08N138W. No significant convection is noted. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section above for more details about a gale warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec region. Gentle winds prevail across the Baja California offshore waters with a weak pressure pattern in place across the region. A low pressure trough is supporting gentle to moderate NW winds over the Gulf of California. Strong to near gale force SW winds will develop over the northern Gulf of California Sun and Sun night ahead of an approaching cold front. The weakening front will move into the northern waters on Mon, accompanied by strong NW winds and large NW swell with seas greater than 12 ft. This swell will propagate across the southern Baja California waters through early next week while gradually decaying. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Please see the Special Features section above for more details about a gale warning in the Papagayo region. Large NW swell generated by the Tehuantepec gales will combine with easterly swell from the Papagayo region to maintain rough seas offshore of Guatemala and El Salvador through this weekend. Seas will reach 12-16 ft well offshore of Guatemala by Sat morning. Wave heights will subside by early next week as the gap winds diminish. Elsewhere, strong winds will pulse over and downstream of the Gulf of Panama through this weekend. Seas will peak around 8-10 ft each day well downstream of the Gulf. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see the Special Features section above for more details about a Pacific high seas gale warning. Fresh to locally strong trade winds prevail W of 120W N of the ITCZ to 20N. Seas are generally running 8-11 ft in this region. Elsewhere, a large area of 8-12 ft seas in N to NE swell extends well downstream of the Tehuantepec region. NW swell of 8-10 ft over the NW corner will gradually spread E-SE through the weekend. A cold front will move into the northern waters Sun through Sun night, followed by strengthening NW winds and building seas. Associated and reinforcing NW swell will move southward across the region through early next week, with seas 12 ft or greater expected north of 25N east of 130W by Mon night. Marine conditions are forecast to gradually improve Tue through Wed night with a weaker pressure pattern in place. $$ Lewitsky