000 AXPZ20 KNHC 201615 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Wed Jan 20 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1545 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 10N74W to 05N97W to 08N114W to 04.5N129W to 06N135W. The ITCZ continues from 06N135W to beyond 07N140W. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted north of the monsoon trough from 07N to 20N between 102W and 110W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Fresh to strong southerly winds prevail on either side of the Baja California peninsula, in association with a 1005 mb surface low near 28.5N120W. This low is expected to drift eastward and rapidly weaken today, producing fresh south to southwest winds across the region through this afternoon. Winds are expected to diminish quickly tonight and Thu as the low moves onshore across Baja California Norte. Large NW swell propagating through the Baja waters during this time will maintain seas in excess of 8 ft through Thu, except in the Gulf of California. Strong northerly winds are expected to continue across the Gulf of Tehuantepec region as high pressure continues to extend into the Gulf of Mexico. The high pressure across the Gulf of Mexico will shift NE and gradually weaken the local pressure gradient through Thu. Expect fresh to strong winds to pulse to just below gale force again tonight, and then to near 30 kt nightly through early Fri with downstream seas peaking at 10 ft each morning. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong offshore gap winds will pulse across the Papagayo region at night through Sun. Moderate northerly winds will pulse to fresh across the Gulf of Panama through Thu. Mainly gentle to moderate winds are forecast elsewhere. Seas will build slightly from west to east in mixed long period S and W swell through early Fri. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A deep-layer 1005 mb low pressure area moved moved southward overnight and is centered offshore of Baja California Norte near 28.5N120W. This low will continue to produce strong winds around the periphery during the next 6 to 12 hours. Maximum seas of around 16 ft are found just to the NW of the low near 29N125W, in the area of strongest N winds. The low will drift eastward and rapidly weaken later today. High pressure NW of the area extends a ridge into the northwest forecast waters. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures near the convergence zone is supporting moderate to fresh trade winds north of the convergence zone to near 22N west of 130W. Seas in this area are in the 8-11 ft range in a mix of NW swell and NE to E wind waves, which is expected to persist through Thu. Large NW swell continues moving southeast across the open waters of the northeast Pacific with seas up to 17 ft near the surface low with gale-force winds near 29N122W. NW swell will maintain seas greater than 8 ft over much of the forecast waters west of 115W through Thu. Seas will subside across the open waters by the end of the week, with the next significant north to northwest swell event expected to arrive this weekend. $$ Stripling