000 AXPZ20 KNHC 251607 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Thu Feb 25 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. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of California Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between strong high pressure across the Great Basin region and a cold front moving into Arizona is supporting strong to gale force winds in the northern gulf N of 29N with seas to 9 ft. The tail of the front will move into Mexico early this afternoon, allowing winds to gradually diminish below gale force. Strong to near gale force winds will extend southward along the remainder of the gulf through early Fri. Moderate to fresh NW winds will prevail along the gulf through Sat. For more specific information on these expected conditions, 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... A surface trough extends from the coast of Colombia near 04N77W to 02N82W to 03N91W. The ITCZ continues from 03N92W to 05N120W to 03N140W. Scattered moderate convection from 0N to 07N E of 82W, and from 01N to 12N between 107W and 118W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section above for more details on a brief Gulf of California gale event occurring this morning. A ridge axis extends eastward across the Baja California offshore waters supporting gentle to moderate NW winds. Seas are generally 5 to 8 ft in mixed NW and southerly swell. Light to gentle winds are noted off the coast of southwestern Mexico, and winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec north of 15N continue to pulse to 20-25 kt. Fresh to strong northerly winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will continue through early Fri. Large NW swell will affect the waters west of Baja California Norte this weekend. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh N winds continue across the Gulf of Panama. Winds are estimated to be fresh to strong in the Papagayo region. Seas are 6-7 ft in mixed swell near the Gulfs of Papagayo and Panama. Winds are generally light to gentle elsewhere across the offshore waters with seas ranging from 3 to 6 ft. Fresh to strong offshore gap winds will continue across the Gulf of Papagayo region into the weekend. Fresh to strong northerly winds will pulse across the Gulf of Panama through tonight, then again Sat night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A ridge extends southward into the subtropics from strong high pressure centered well north of the forecast area. A large area of fresh trade winds continue between this ridge and lower pressures near the ITCZ with seas in the 7-9 ft range, and wave heights approaching 10 ft in the far NW portion. Trade winds are expected to strengthen later this week as stronger high pressure dominates the eastern Pacific. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh winds continue north of the ITCZ, with 7-8 ft seas in mixed E wind waves and NW swell from 06N to 12N between 95W and 120W. Large northerly swell is forecast to propagate southward Fri night through Sun, with seas building to 12-16 ft north of 25N between 120W and 130W. This swell will continue moving southward across the region through early next week. $$ Ramos