000 AXPZ20 KNHC 302037 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2035 UTC Thu Apr 30 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2000 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 07N77W to 05N81W to 08N87W to 07N102W. The ITCZ extends from 07N102W to 04N121W to 07N131W, then continues from 06N133W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 180 nm of the trough east of 102W, and within 120 nm of the ITCZ between 121W and 126W, and west of 135W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... High pressure is building over the western Gulf of Mexico behind a late-season cold front. Recent scatterometer data shows strong N gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Elsewhere, high pressure centered near 32N130W extends a ridge SE near the Revillagigedo Islands and offshore of southern Mexico. Moderate NW winds are noted in scatterometer data west of Guadalupe Island, with light to gentle winds over the remaining offshore waters. NW swell is currently moving into the Baja California Norte waters, and wave heights are expected to build to 8 ft or greater tonight. Visible satellite imagery shows smoke from agricultural fires lingers over the waters from Cabo Corrientes SE to the Tehuantepec region. Note that smoke may reduce visibility at times over these waters. The offshore high pressure ridge will persist through early next week. Near gale force northerly winds are expected in the Tehuantepec region tonight through Fri behind a Gulf of Mexico cold front. NW swell will build seas west of Baja California tonight through Sat. A larger set of NW swell may impact the waters north of Cabo San Lazaro Sun night through Tue night. Smoke from agricultural fires may reduce visibility at times in the offshore waters south of Cabo Corrientes. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Scatterometer data from this morning showed moderate to locally fresh winds in the Papagayo region, although wind speeds have likely diminished this afternoon. Moderate southerly flow prevails south of an offshore trough, along with scattered showers and thunderstorms offshore of Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. Seas generally remain 4-6 ft across the region. Visible satellite imagery shows smoke from agricultural fires lingers over the waters off Guatemala and El Salvador. Fresh to occasionally strong gap winds will pulse in the Papagayo region through Mon. Smoke from agricultural fires in Central America may reduce visibility at times in the waters off Guatemala and El Salvador. A set of SW swell will propagate across the region Mon through Tue night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A ridge extends across the northern waters from high pressure centered near 32N130W. Recent scatterometer data shows moderate trades persist south of this ridge west of 120W, with some fresh winds noted closer to a trough that extends from 10N130W to 03N134W. Fresh SE winds are occurring south of the ITCZ between 120W and 125W. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds prevail over the high seas region. Earlier altimeter data captured a decaying area of 7-8 ft seas in NW swell over the far NW portion, but these conditions have likely subsided. High pressure will persist across the northern waters through early next week. NW swell moving into the waters west of Baja California will build seas to 8-10 ft east of 125W by early Fri. The trough referenced above will move westward and pass west of 140W by Fri night, with fresh to locally strong winds and seas to 8 ft possible ahead of the axis on Fri. Looking ahead, winds and seas may increase west of Baja California early next week as high pressure builds NW of the region. $$ B Reinhart