000 AXPZ20 KNHC 030843 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 716 UTC Fri Apr 3 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0840 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough extends from 07N78W to 04N93W. The ITCZ continues from 04N93W to 07N134W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 04N to 13N between 125W and 136W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A surface ridge extends from 1030 mb high pressure near 35N135W through the Revillagigedo Islands. The pressure gradient between this ridge and a trough over the Gulf of California is supporting gentle to moderate NW winds off Baja California. Light SW winds across most of the Gulf of California, and light to gentle winds prevails in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Seas of 8 ft or greater in NW swell prevails well off the coast north of Punta Eugenia. Farther south, seas of 4 to 6 ft in a mix of NW and SW swell prevails. Northerly swell to 8 ft will persist off Baja California Norte through Sat. Otherwise a weak pressure pattern will maintain gentle breezes into Sat. A cold front is expected to move into the area early next week. Fresh to strong SW winds will develop across the Gulf of California late Sat into Sun ahead of this front. Farther south, no significant gap wind event is anticipated in the Gulf of Tehuantepec during the next several days. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Rather quiet conditions are observed over the Central American and equatorial waters, with light to gentle winds and seas in the 3-5 ft range prevailing. These conditions are expected to change little through Sat night. Early next week, a western Caribbean high pressure ridge is forecast to build southward. This will tighten the pressure gradient over the area and produce fresh to strong northeast to east gap winds in the Gulf of Papagayo region. Long- period southwest swell will reach the waters between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands on Sun. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1030 mb is centered well north of the area near 35N135W. Farther south, a surface trough is noted near 136W, from 04N to 11N. The pressure gradient between the area of high pressure and the surface trough is supporting moderate to fresh winds, and seas in the 7-8 ft range N of the trough to near 15N and W of 130W. Gentle to moderate winds, and seas of 5-7 ft, prevail elsewhere. The trade wind flow will increase today into Sat as high pressure north of the area builds. Seas will build in the area of fresh to strong trades, possibly reaching 8 to 11 ft Sat into Sun. The area of high pressure will weaken and shift westward Sun. This will enable a frontal boundary to move into the northern waters Sun into early next week. The pressure gradient will loosen as the area of high pressure weakens. This will diminish trade winds to the moderate range, and associated seas will decrease over the tropical waters Mon into Tue. Fresh trade winds will return toward mid week as the high builds in the wake of the front. $$ AL