000 AXPZ20 KNHC 121605 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Sat Dec 12 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 1550 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 06N77W to 09N119W. The ITCZ continues from 09N119W to beyond 07N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 02N to 07N E of 82W, from 05N to 10N between 108W to 113W, and along the ITCZ from 07N-13N between 118W to 140W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A deep layer trough extends southwestward from north central Mexico, across Baja California Sur and Socorro Island to near 20N125W. Recent altimeter satellite passes indicated seas are 7 to 8 ft west of Baja California Norte. This is due to northerly swell moving across the region. Gentle breezes and modest seas are noted from scatterometer and altimeter data across the Gulf of California and west of the remainder of the Mexican coast. The NW swell off Baja California will gradually subside through Sun, but fresh to strong NW to N winds are expected off Baja California Norte and in the northern Gulf of California tonight into Sun as high pressure builds north of the area. Another round of large northwest swell is likely for the waters west of Baja California Mon through Tue. Farther south, strong gap winds are expected in the Gulf of Tehuantepec Mon night as a cold front moves across the western Gulf of Mexico. Stronger gap winds to gale force are possible Wed night. Large NW swell is likely for the waters west of Baja California Mon through Wed. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to occasionally strong offshore gap winds are expected across the Gulf of Papagayo this morning. Seas downwind of the Papagayo region are below 8 ft. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail elsewhere the next several days, with seas in the 5 to 8 ft range in primarily SW swell, subsiding to 4-6 ft by Mon. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... 1025 mb high pressure is centered near 31N126W. A ridge extends SW from the high to northeast of Hawaii. The gradient between higher pressure north of the area and lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting a large area of fresh trade winds roughly from 08N to 25N, west of 120W. These winds will remain in place for the next several days as high pressure persists north of the area. Long period NW swell covers much of the waters, with 8 to 10 ft seas. Sea heights will slowly subside through Sun. Reinforcing northwest swell, with seas of 8 to 12 ft, will push southward into the waters north of 20N Sun night into Tue, related in part to a cold front expected to approach the area from the northwest by Sun, but then stall and lift north through early next week. $$ Torres