000 AXPZ20 KNHC 191555 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Sat Dec 19 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 1500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehunatepec Gale Warning: Winds have diminished to 20-25 kt in the Gulf of Tehuantepec this morning while lingering seas are 8 ft. Fresh to strong winds will continue through Sun. A cold front will move across the Gulf of Mexico Sun inducing a new round of N gales over the Gulf of Tehuantepec Sun night through Tue. Seas will peak around 10-12 ft with the next gale event. Looking ahead...marine guidance suggests a very strong gap wind event beyond the forecast period. Winds may reach storm-force by Thu evening. 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 axis extends from northern Colombia near 10N74W to 07N80W to 09N86W to 07N100W. The ITCZ axis extends from 07N100W to 08N120W to 09N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted from 07N to 10N between 115W and 120W, from 08N to 11N, and from 10n to 13N W of 130W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... See Special Features for details about the Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning. Gulf of California: High pressure over the Great Basin region of U.S. will support fresh to strong NW-N winds across the Gulf of California this evening through Sun evening. Seas will remain under 8 ft. Similar conditions are expected Wed and night behind the next cold front with seas building to 5-7 ft. Mainly moderate to fresh northerly winds elsewhere will diminish early next week as the pressure gradient across the region slackens. Long period NW swell impacting the waters N of Cabo San Lazaro will slowly subside through Sun. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong NE-E winds will pulse across the Papagayo region through the next several days as high pressure remains in place over the W Caribbean. Moderate to occasionally fresh N winds will pulse in the Gulf of Panama through this morning, strongest near the Azuero Peninsula. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail elsewhere. Looking ahead...fresh to strong northerly winds may affect the offshore waters of Guatemala and El Salvador by Thu night into Fri. No significant swell events are forecast through early next week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1032 mb located north of the area near 34N132W dominates the waters north of the ITCZ. The moderate pressure gradient between the high and the the ITCZ is causing fresh to locally strong NE to E trades. Seas will peak around 8-10 ft today due to combined wind waves and NW swell. The high pressure will weaken ahead of a cold front reaching 30N140W by Mon evening. This will allow the trades to weaken substantially Sun through Tue. A weak trough may develop over the west-central waters by mid-week increasing trades again slightly. No new large long-period swell is expected over forecast waters for the next several days. $$ GR