000 AXPZ20 KNHC 230354 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Tue Feb 23 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 0350 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure will build behind a cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico today. This will help tighten the pressure gradient across the area, increasing winds to gale-force tonight. Gale force winds are expected to continue through late Tue night. Seas will peak near 14 ft early Tue. Swell generated from the gale force winds will spread well downwind from the region, with seas 8 ft or greater reaching as far west as 112W by Wed night. Please read the latest NWS high seas forecast issued at the National Hurricane Center at website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from a 1009 mb low in northern Colombia to a second 1009 mb low pressure near 06N89W to 04N98W. The ITCZ continues from 04N98W to 03N119W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 04N to 09N between 89W to 95W and scattered showers in the vicinity of the ITCZ between 100W to 109W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see above for more information on the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale event. Outside of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, gentle to moderate winds prevail off the coast of Baja California, with seas in the 6-8 ft range. Fresh to strong winds, and seas of 4-6 ft are noted across the Gulf of California. Light to gentle winds, and seas of 4-6 ft are seen elsewhere. Gale force winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec will prevail through Tue night. Fresh to strong northwest winds will continue over the Gulf of California through tonight. Strong northwest winds are also expected over this region on Thu. A set of northerly swell will propagate into the waters off Baja California Norte midweek. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... The latest ASCAT pass shows fresh to strong winds downwind of the Gulf of Papagayo, moderate to fresh winds downwind of the Gulf of Panama, and light to gentle winds elsewhere. Seas are in the 8-10 ft range downwind of the Gulf of Papagayo, 5-7 ft downwind of the Gulf of Panama, and 5-6 ft elsewhere. Winds will pulse to fresh to strong in the Gulf of Papagayo each night through the week. Fresh to strong northerly winds will pulse across the Gulf of Panama each night through Thu night. Light to gentle winds will prevail elsewhere. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1037 mb is centered near 36N139W. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting fresh to locally strong trades north of the ITCZ and west of 130W. Gentle to moderate winds prevail elsewhere north of the ITCZ. NW swell, with seas in the 8-11 ft range, prevail west of a line from Punta Eugenia to neat 07N140W. Seas will slowly subside the next couple of days. Another set of northerly swell will begin to move through the far northern waters Tue night through Fri. $$ Torres