197 AXPZ20 KNHC 050241 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sat Dec 5 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0240 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between a ridge across the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico and the eastern north Pacific monsoon trough supports minimal gale- force winds across the Tehuantepec area. Gale force winds are expected into the early morning hours on Sat before diminishing below gale force. A second and stronger gap wind event is expected in the Tehuantepec region Sun night through Wed night as another cold front develops near the Mexican coast late Sat. Seas are forecast to build to 14-15 ft with the latter event. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.html for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 10N85W to low pres near 10N91W to 07N98W to low pres near 10N116W to 10N122W. The ITCZ continues from 10N122W to 08N130W to beyond 09N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 07N to 10N between 89W and 101W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 09N to 15N between 110W and 118W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 08N to 10N between 121W and 140W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section for more on the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force gap wind event. Elsewhere, fresh to strong NW-N winds prevail over the Gulf of California, with seas in the in the 5-7 ft range. These winds and seas will decrease overnight, then increase once again Sat night. NW swell continues across the offshore waters off Baja California with sea heights of 8-11 ft. Seas over this area will subside through the weekend, falling below 8 ft late on Sunday. Another set of NW swell will enter the waters off Baja California early next week. Seas will peak near 14 to 15 ft off Baja California Norte by Tue. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Mainly fresh NE to E winds are expected in the Gulf of Papagayo at night through Mon night. Winds are forecast to increase to a fresh to strong beginning on Tue, with near gale conditions Wed as high pressure builds over the western Caribbean. Elsewhwere, light to gentle winds are expected north of the monsoon trough, with gentle to moderate S to SW winds south of the monsoon trough, through the upcoming weekend. Swell from the gale force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec combined with SW swell will impact the waters off Guatemala and El Salvador through Sat night, with seas of 6-7 ft. Seas will build to 8-9 ft over these waters early next week as larger swell is generated from another gale force gap wind event over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Seas in the 4-5 ft range will prevail elsewhere. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1025 mb is centered near 37N128W. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ, and within the monsoon trough, is supporting moderate to fresh trade winds roughly from 10N to 20N west of 120W. Seas are 8 to 11 ft in NW swell across this area. A ridge will persist across the northern forecast waters over the next several days, keeping a large area of fresh trade winds. Large, long period, NW swell continues to propagate across most of the waters N of the equator and W of 120W. Seas associated with this swell have started to subside and will continue to slowly subside through the weekend. Another large NW swell event will reach the NW corner of the forecast area by Sat. This swell will bring seas greater than 12 ft, over much of the waters north of 20N on Tue. Seas will peak near 15-17 ft Tue before starting to subside. Seas greater than 8 ft with this swell will propagate SE across the area, covering much of the waters west of 105W by Wed night. $$ AL