000 AXPZ20 KNHC 172205 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2034 UTC Tue Mar 17 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 2030 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough extends from 08N83W to 05N90W to 03N96W. The ITCZ extends from 03N97W to 03N120W to 06N126W to 06N136W. Scattered moderate convection and isolated tstms are from 03N to 08N between 83W and 96W, and from 02N to 11N between 112W and 129W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from a 1014 mb low over the northern Gulf of California to Punta Eugenia to 23N124W. This cold front will dissipate this evening ahead of a developing cold front that will enter the Baja California Norte offshores waters tonight. The second front will support fresh to near gale force southwest to west winds N of 24N tonight through Wed night with seas of 8 to 11 ft. Strong to near gale force southwest winds associated with the front will affect the northern Gulf of California waters N of 28N Wed morning through Wed night with seas building to 8 ft. Gentle to moderate northerlies will dominate the Baja peninsula offshores and the Gulf of California Thu through Sat with wave heights in the 5-7 ft range. Moderate to fresh N winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will diminish this evening. The next gap winds event is forecast to begin Sat morning. Strong to near gale force winds with seas to 10 ft are possible in this region over the weekend. Elsewhere across the Mexican offshore waters, mainly gentle to moderate winds and SW swell producing wave heights of around 4-5 ft will remain through end of the week, with winds strengthening slightly by the end of the week into the weekend. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... High pressure over the northern Caribbean will maintain fresh to strong northeast to east gap winds over the Gulf of Papagayo region through the weekend. These winds are likely to reach near gale force late tonight, with wave heights in the range of 8-10 ft. Fresh north winds will continue across the Gulf of Panama and downstream to 05N into Thu, with locally strong winds likely during the evenings. South to southwest swell will continue over these waters for the rest of the week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Gentle to moderate northeast to east winds are between the ITCZ and 15N under the influence of a surface ridge anchored by a 1031 mb high near 38N143W. A broad area of low pressure supporting scattered showers and isolated tstms from 02N to 12N W of 120W is also generating a small area of fresh to strong winds from 02N to 06N between 125W and 131W. Seas in this region range between 7-8 ft. Mixed swell will support seas to 8 ft from 08N to 17N W of 125W through Fri. A cold front extending across the Baja Califonia Norte offshores waters to 23N124W will dissipate this evening. A forming cold front behind this front is supporting fresh to strong NW winds N of 26N between 125W and 138W. The front will continue to affect the northern Pac waters through Wed night with possible near gale force winds affecting the offshores of Baja California Norte. Peak wave heights should be in the range of 9-12 ft. Looking ahead, a rather weak cold front, based on latest model trends, may enter the far northwest corner of the area from late Thu through late on Fri. Presently, the forecast calls for fresh northeast winds and wave heights reaching to 8 or 9 ft behind this front. $$ Ramos