000 AXPZ20 KNHC 142205 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Mon Dec 14 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 2145 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehunatepec Gale Warning: High pressure building southward along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental and across the Gulf of Mexico behind a cold front will support brief gales in the Tehuantepec region this afternoon and evening. Gale force winds to 40 kt are expected in this region, with seas building up to 12 ft. Winds will quickly diminish well below gale-force by early Tue morning. A second gap wind event is expected in the Tehuantepec area late Wed through Fri as another cold front moves across the Gulf of Mexico. Marine guidance suggests minimal gale-force winds and building seas of up to 11-12 ft with this second gale event. Please, read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 06N77W to 06N90W to 06N108W. The ITCZ continues from 06N108W to 07N125W to beyond 07N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 01N to 07N E of 84W, from 05N to 12N between 92W and 103W, from 10N to 15N between 105W and 122W, and from 04N to 11N between 123W and 137W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A Gale Warning remains in effect for the Tehuantepec region. Please, see the Special Features section for more details. A ridge dominates the offshore forecast waters of Baja California. The pressure gradient between the ridge and a dissipating cold front just N of Punta Eugenia supports moderate to locally fresh N-NE winds N of 22N over the Baja peninsula offshore waters. These winds are forecast increase to 20-25 kt across the waters N of 28N E of 120W by this evening as the pressure gradient tighten across the offshore waters of northern Baja California. Long period NW swell associated with the front will build seas up to 12-13 ft tonight into Tue morning in this region. The swell will reach the southern peninsula adjacent waters this evening and subside late Wed. Gulf of California: Moderate to fresh northerly winds are expected along the gulf Wed, increasing to fresh to strong Wed night. Winds and seas will diminish Thu as the pressure gradient in the region relaxes. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate to fresh NE-E winds will prevail in the Papagayo region over the next several days with seas of 4-6 ft. Winds are expected to increase to fresh to strong on Fri as high pressure builds over the western Caribbean. Gentle to moderate northerly winds are expected in the Gulf of Panama with sea heights of 3-5 ft. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds will prevail S of the monsoon trough with mainly gentle winds N of it. Seas of 5-8 ft in SW swell between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands will gradually subside to 4-6 ft by tonight. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1030 mb located near 34N129W extends a ridge SE across the northern forecast waters to near the Revillagigedo Islands. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting a large area of fresh to locally strong trade winds from 09N to 20N W of 118W Thes winds will persist over the next 48 hours as high pressure remains in place. A new set of long period NW swell is propagating over the NW corner of the forecast area. This swell event will continue to spread SE, covering most of the area N of 10N W of 115W by this evening. Seas are forecast to build to 8-13 ft, with the highest seas N of 28N between 117W and 125W. Additional pulses of NW swell will reach 30N140W on Tue. $$ Ramos