000 AXPZ20 KNHC 042200 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2150 UTC Wed Mar 4 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 2110 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gales are expected to form around midday Thu in and near the Gulf of Tehuantepec as a strong cold front crosses the Gulf of Mexico. Winds, with speeds of 40 to 45 kt, and waves, with heights of up to 19 ft, will peak Fri and Fri night, but hazardous conditions will prevail into at least Sun. The associated higher seas will combine with seas stemming from winds in the Papagayo region will lead to wave heights of 8 to 10 ft propagating as far W of 120W by Mon evening. 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. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The ITCZ has 2 segments extending from 05N87W to 06N108W to 04N113W to 05N116W and from 05N118W to 06N135W. No significant convection is currently associated with the ITCZ. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A high pres ridge extending SE from near 30N135W to near the Revillagigedo Islands will gradually shift E but maintain light to moderate NW to N winds over the waters W of Baja through Sat night. Strong SW winds will affect the Gulf of California N of 29N Sat night as a weakening cold front moves onshore from the Pacific. Decaying NW swell of 8 to 9 ft offshore Baja California Sur will propagate SE today but fall below 8 ft tonight. For more on the impending gale force gap winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec, please refer to the Special Features Section. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: A strong high pres ridge will remain in place over the Caribbean through the forecast period. Fresh to strong offshore winds across the Papagayo region will strengthen this weekend. Winds could reach near gale force as seas build as high as 11 ft. Gulf of Panama: Moderate to fresh winds over the Gulf of Panama could become strong Sun, with seas building to 8 to 9 ft. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure measuring 1032 mb centered near 35N141W is supporting a broad area fresh to locally strong winds N of 05N and W of 120W, along with seas of 8 to 11 ft. As the high shifts east and weakens, these conditions will diminish. By Fri, a cold front will move into the waters N of 25N and W of 130W, bringing fresh to locally strong N winds and N swell of 8 to 9 ft. Looking ahead, this front is likely to dissipate for the start of next week as it crosses the Baja Peninsula and the Mexican State of Sonora. For the waters E of 110W, gentle to moderate trade winds will prevail through the end of this week. Areas of 8 ft seas created by swell propagating downstream from likely gap winds over the Gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo will expand and merge to encompass most of the waters S of 13N between 90W and 110W by late Sun. $$ CAM