000 AXPZ20 KNHC 180219 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 121 UTC Wed Mar 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 0115 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 06N between 85W and 95W, and from 02N to 12N W of 114W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from 31N114W in the northern Gulf of California to near Punta Eugenia to 23N122W. The portion of the cold front W of the Baja California peninsula will start dissipating tonight ahead of a developing cold front that will enter the Baja California Norte offshores waters late tonight. The second front will support fresh to near gale force southwest to west winds N of 24N tonight through Wed night with seas to 11 ft gradually subsiding through Thu morning. 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, except to 3 ft in the gulf. The next gap winds event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec 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 4-6 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 with wave heights in the range of 8-10 ft. Moderate to fresh north winds will continue across the Gulf of Panama and downstream to 05N through the weekend. Long period southwest swell will preavil across the region through the weekend. 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 1028 mb high near 37N143W. A broad area of low pressure supporting scattered showers and isolated tstms from 02N to 11N W of 113W is also generating a small area of fresh to locally strong winds from 03N to 07N between 126W and 131W. Mixed swell will support seas to 8 ft from 10N to 19N W of 125W through Fri. A cold front extending across the Baja Califonia Norte offshores waters to 23N122W will dissipate tonight. A forming cold front behind this front is supporting fresh to strong NW winds N of 24N between 123W and 133W. The front will continue to affect the northern Pacific waters through Wed night with near gale force winds likely affecting the offshores of Baja California Norte. Peak wave heights are in the range of 9-12 ft as indicated by latest altimeter data. 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