000 AXPZ20 KNHC 291549 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1549 UTC Sun Mar 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 06N84W to 06N95W. The ITCZ continues from 06N95W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is evident from 05N to 07N between 123W and 125W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A surface ridge extends from the north central Pacific east- southeast toward Baja California Sur. Recent ship observations indicated fresh NW winds off the coast of Baja California Sur, between the ridge and 1004 mb low pressure over central Mexico. Significant wave heights are 5 to 7 ft off Baja California, and 2 to 4 ft in the Gulf of California. Farther south, gentle to moderate winds and 3 to 5 ft seas are ongoing. No significant shower or thunderstorm activity is noted at this time over Mexican offshore waters. For the forecast, NW winds will increase by late today off Baja California Norte, between the strengthening high pressure west of the region, and the low pressure over central Mexico. The high pressure will weaken through mid-week allowing for winds off Baja California 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 to strong early on 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 through this afternoon and tonight. Fresh northerly winds across the Gulf of Panama will continue through this morning. Light to gentle winds are expected elsewhere across the offshore waters through through the middle of the upcoming week. Lightning was detected a while ago near Cocos Island off Costa Rica along a surface trough, but this has since diminished. Otherwise no significant shower or thunderstorms are observed at this time over the region. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A broad ridge reaches from west to east north of 25N. This is supporting a large area of fresh to strong trade wind flow from about 08N to 20N west of 120W, as noted in various scatterometer satellite passes and buoy data over the deep tropics. Concurrent altimeter satellite data shows seas of 8 to 12 ft in the area of fresh to strong winds. These are primarily shorter period wave related to the trade wind flow, but also with components of longer period northerly swell. Farther east, light to moderate winds and 4 to 6 ft seas are noted over the tropical east Pacific. A surface trough persists along 135W near the ITCZ. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are ongoing near this trough. 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. $$ Christensen