000 AXPZ20 KNHC 290739 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sun Mar 29 2020 Updated ITCZ/Monsoon Trough section 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 0730 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH...Updated A surface trough extends from 08N84W to 06N90W, where scatterometer data from Sat afternoon indicated that it transitions to the ITCZ to 06N101W to 05N117W to 05N130W and to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm north of ITCZ between 128W and 131W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Both ship observations and scatterometer satellite data from yesterday afternoon and evening showed fresh northwest to north winds off Baja California Sur, with fresh to strong northwest winds over the southern portion of the Gulf of California and between Los Cabos and Mazatlan. These winds are the result of a tight pressure gradient between strengthening high pressure west of the area and low pressure over central Mexico. Concurrent altimeter satellite data from Sat afternoon revealed wave heights in the range of 8-10 ft in the open waters off Baja California through the Revillagigedo Islands. Wave heights to 8- 9 ft were shown by this data to be southwest of the southern tip of Baja California Sur to near 20N. Generally, light to gentle winds and slight seas are noted farther south. This pattern will maintain moderate to fresh northwest winds west of Baja California today, except for fresh to strong northwest to north winds over the southern Gulf of California before diminishing to fresh speeds late Sun. The high pressure will continue to strenghten into Mon, supporting fresh to strong northwest winds and building wave heights off Baja California Norte and the northern Gulf of California early in the upcoming week. The high weakens through mid-week allowing winds to diminish. Gentle west to northwest winds will dominate the waters between Cabo Corrientes and Tehuantepec through the period, except for a brief pulse of fresh gap winds late Sun into Mon. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... High pressure north of the western Caribbean will maintain pulses of fresh to strong gap winds in the Gulf of Papagayo region and off Nicaragua tonight and Sun night, and fresh to strong northerly winds across the Gulf of Panama tonight. Light to gentle winds are expected elsewhere across the offshore waters through mid week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Broad high pressure ridging covers the area north of about 19N with the anchoring high pressure of 1027 mb centered near 30N136W. The associated gradient is allowing for fresh to strong trade winds over much of the area from 07N to 25N and west of 114W, as was observed in scatterometer satellite data from Sat afternoon. Altimeter data passes from Sat afternoon showed wave heights in the range of 8-12 ft in this area, largely due to the trade wind flow but also due to a mix of primarily northerly swell. Farther east, lighter winds and slight seas are evident in the deep tropics east of 120W. Satellite water vapor imagery reveals a rather sharp upper-level trough that extends from southern Mexico to roughly the equator at 108W. Divergent flow aloft east of this feature is supporting a few showers and thunderstorms along and within 30 nm south of the trough as described above under ITCZ/Monsoon Trough section between 90W- 92W. Little change is expected in this pattern through early next week. The ridge will weaken into the middle part of the week, allowing for winds to diminish and wave heights to subside west of 120W. $$ Aguirre