000 AXPZ20 KNHC 080242 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Fri Jan 8 2021 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: High pressure has built across the eastern slopes of Mexico in the wake of a cold front in the Gulf of Mexico. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and the eastern north Pacific monsoon trough is supporting northerly gale force gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The gale force winds will continue through early Sat. Seas downwind of the Gulf of Tehuantepec will rapidly increase to greater than 10 ft by early Fri, then remain 10-13 ft through Sat. Winds and seas will diminish Sat night and Sun as high pressure north of the area weakens and the pressure gradient loosens. Looking ahead, another gale- force event is possible early next week. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 08N78W to 07N111W. The ITCZ continues from 07N111W to 07N120W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 04N to 08N between 100W and 106W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 04N to 08N between 125W and 135W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... See Special Features for details on the Gale Warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, as well as Gale Conditions Possible early next week. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh NW to N winds are expected across the offshore waters of Baja California and north of Cabo San Lazaro over the next several days as a ridge remains in place. Large NW swell, with seas in the 8-15 ft range, dominates the waters west of Baja California. Pulses of large NW swell will continue to propagate across this region through early next week. Gulf of California: Gentle to moderate NW to N winds are expected across the Gulf of California through Sat. Winds are forecast to increase Sat night and Sun as high pressure settles over the Great Basin region of the United States. Winds in the northern Gulf are expected to become fresh to strong Sat night and Sun, then diminish to moderate to fresh through early next week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... NE to E winds in the Gulf of Papagayo region will increase Fri through early next week. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will prevail north of the monsoon trough, except near the Gulf of Panama where northerly winds will pulse to moderate through early Sun. Gentle to moderate S to SW winds are expected south of the monsoon trough through Mon. Large seas generated by gale- force winds in the Tehuantepec region will reach the offshore waters of Guatemala and El Salvador Fri and Sat, and then again early next week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1024 mb is centered near 27N135W. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting moderate to fresh trade winds north of the ITCZ to 20N west of 120W. Seas are in the 8-11 ft range in a mix of NW swell and E-NE wind waves. These marine conditions will persist during the next few days. Long period NW swell continues to propagate across most of the forecast waters north of the equator and west of 100W, with sea heights of 8-12 ft. Another set of large long period NW swell has propagated into the NW waters. Seas 12 ft or greater are NW of a line from 30N132W to 24N140W, with seas in the 12 to 16 ft range. Seas expected to further build to 16-18 ft tonight into early Fri. Another set of NW swell will move into the NW waters Sat night, with yet another set of NW swell entering the waters next Tuesday. $$ AL