000 AXPZ20 KNHC 031551 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough extends from 09N74W TO 05.5N86.5W. The ITCZ continues from 05.5N86.5W TO 03N94W TO 07N124W TO 08N135W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 03N to 05N between 90W and 95W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A surface ridge extends from 1029 mb high pressure near 34N136W to just south of 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 S to SW winds persist across most of the Gulf of California, and light to gentle winds prevail in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Seas of 8 to 10 ft in NW swell prevails well off the coast north of Punta Eugenia and extend into the offshore zones within 120 nm of the coast. Farther south, seas of 4 to 6 ft in a mix of NW and SW swell prevail. Northerly swell to 8 ft will persist off Baja California Norte through Sat. Otherwise weak high pressure will maintain gentle breezes into Sat. Fresh to strong SW winds will develop across the Gulf of California late Sat into Sun ahead of a cold front expected to move through Baja California Norte and the Gulf of California early in the week. 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 1029 mb is centered well north of the area near 34N136W. Farther south, a surface trough is noted near 137W, from 04N to 10N. 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 north of the trough to near 15N and west of 130W. Gentle to moderate winds, and seas of 5-7 ft, prevail elsewhere. The trade wind flow will increase this evening 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 waters north of 25N 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. $$ Stripling