000 AXPZ20 KNHC 261502 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Tue Jan 26 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 1500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A cold front is forecast to move across the Gulf of Mexico later this week. High pressure will build in the wake of the front across eastern Mexico. This will create a tight pressure gradient over this area and the eastern north Pacific monsoon trough. Northerly winds will rapidly funnel through the Chivela Pass with gale force winds forecast beginning Wed evening in the Tehuantepec region. Winds will approach strong gale force early Thu and then again Thu night. The gale force winds are forecast to persist through early Sat morning. This event will generate very large seas, which will peak around 20 ft in the Tehuantepec region Thu night through Fri. Seas generated from this gap wind event will propagate well west- southwest away from the Tehuantepec region. Please see the latest High Seas Forecast at http://nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details.. Large Swell west of Baja California Norte: Large, long-period, NW swell is propagating across the waters west of Baja California. Wave heights up to 17 ft are peaking now west of Baja California Norte. There is a significant risk of hazardous surf conditions north of Punta Eugenia through this evening. Please refer to your local statements issued by your national meteorological service for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 07N78W to 05N87W to low pres near 05.5N116W to 06N125W. The ITCZ continues from 06N125W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 00N to 06N between the coast of Colombia and 80W, from 03N to 07N between 92W and 108W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 03N to 10N between 110W and 120W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Refer to the Special Features section for details on a Gale Warning for the Tehuantepec region, as well as details on a large NW swell event west of Baja California Norte. Gulf of California: Fresh to near gale force winds prevail over the northern Gulf of California, with seas to 8 ft. Winds will diminish to 20 kt or less and seas will subside to less than 8 ft this evening. Fresh to strong winds prevail west of Baja California Norte, with seas to 17 ft. Moderate to fresh winds prevail elsewhere north of 18N, except fresh to strong offshore of Cabo Corrientes. South of 18N, gentle to moderate winds prevail. Seas are 8-12 ft in NW swell offshore Baja California and south of Punta Eugenia, and 5-8 ft north of 18N to the Revillagigedo Islands, 3 ft or less in the central and southern Gulf of California, and 4-6 ft south of 18N. Fresh to strong northerly winds are forecast from the southern Gulf of California to near Cabo Corrientes tonight through Wed. Another large NW swell event is possible west of Baja California Thu through the end of the week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Gulf of Papagayo: Moderate to fresh offshore winds across the Papagayo region will increase to fresh to strong Wed night through Sat night with building seas by the end of the week into the weekend. Seas will peak between 8-10 ft at that time. Gulf of Panama: Moderate northerly winds prevail in the Gulf of Panama. Winds will strengthen Thu night through Fri night. Seas of 4-6 ft will prevail the next couple of days, building to 6-8 ft Thu night through Sat night. Gentle to moderate winds will continue to prevail elsewhere. Large seas generated by a strong gap wind event in the Tehuantepec region will spread across the offshore waters of Guatemala and El Salvador Thu night through Fri night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1032 mb is centered northwest of the area near 33N140W. A ridge extends from this area of high pressure across the waters north of 20N. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ, and within the monsoon trough, is supporting fresh to strong trade winds north of the ITCZ and west of 120W. Seas in this area are in the 8-12 ft range in a mix of NW swell and NE-E wind waves. The strong pressure gradient is forecast to remain in place through this evening. Large NW-N swell continues across the area, with seas greater than 8 ft over the waters N of 04N and west of 110W. Seas will gradually subside over the next few days. A cold front will drop south of 30N on Wed with fresh to strong winds both ahead of and behind the front through early Thu, mainly north of 25N. This swell will usher in another set of large northerly swell. The swell will propagate southward across the entire area through the end of the week. Winds and seas will diminish slightly this weekend. $$ AL