000 AXPZ20 KNHC 012031 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2030 UTC Fri May 1 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 06N80W to 08N89W to 07N97W. The ITCZ extends from 07N97W to 07N113W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 120 nm of the trough between 80W and 91W, within 180 nm N of the ITCZ between 97W and 110W, and within 180 nm N of the ITCZ between 115W and 130W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Scatterometer data from this morning reveals fresh to locally strong northerly winds extending from the Gulf of Tehuantepec SW to near 11N97W. An altimeter pass over the Tehuantepec region showed 8-11 ft seas, although these seas are now subsiding as the gap winds diminish. Farther north, a high pressure ridge persists well offshore of Baja California. Recent scatterometer data indicates light to gentle winds prevail across the offshore waters outside of the Tehuantepec region. NW swell is producing 8-9 ft seas over the outer waters W and NW of Punta Eugenia. Moderate SE winds are noted in the Gulf of California near a persistent surface trough. The latest smoke analysis indicates light to moderate smoke is confined to the waters off Oaxaca and Chiapas. The offshore high pressure ridge will persist through the middle of next week. Strong gap winds will briefly pulse in the Gulf of Tehuantepec overnight, then diminish on Sat. Moderate to locally fresh southerly winds will persist over the Gulf of California tonight and Sat. NW swell over the waters N of Punta Eugenia will gradually decay through Sat. Another set of NW swell will propagate across the Baja California waters Sun night through the middle of next week. Smoke from agricultural fires may reduce visibility at times in the Tehuantepec region. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate NE to E winds are noted in earlier scatterometer data over the Papagayo region. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds prevail across most of the region. Northerly swell from the Tehuantepec gap winds is producing 5-7 ft seas in the waters well offshore of Guatemala, while otherwise seas remain 4-6 ft through the region. The latest smoke analysis indicates moderate smoke blankets the offshore waters off Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, with areas of dense smoke closer to the coast. Dense smoke may reduce visibility to 1 nm or less at times. Fresh to occasionally strong gap winds will pulse in the Papagayo region through Mon, then diminish into the middle of next week. Dense smoke from agricultural fires in Central America will reduce visibility to 1 nm or less at times in the waters off Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A high pressure ridge over the northern waters maintains moderate to fresh trades over the waters S of 20N W of 120W, per recent scatterometer passes. Wave heights peak around 8 ft near 11N137W in mixed NW and SE swell. Elsewhere, moderate to locally fresh trades are noted S of the ITCZ W of 110W. Gentle winds generally prevail E of 110W, with locally higher winds and gusts near ITCZ convection described above. High pressure will prevail across the northern waters through the middle of next week. NW swell west of Baja California Norte will gradually decay through Sat. Winds and seas will increase west of Baja California Sun night through Wed as high pressure builds NW of the region. Elsewhere, freshening trade winds will maintain seas to 8-9 ft roughly W of 135W through early Mon. $$ B Reinhart