000 AXPZ20 KNHC 172014 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Wed Mar 17 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1950 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: Strong high pressure building south through the western Gulf of Mexico will funnel winds across Mexico and into the Gulf of Tehuantepec Thu. Thu night, these gap winds will increase to gale force, with gales persisting into Sun morning Seas may reach 13-15 ft, especially later Sat. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast from the National Hurricane Center at the website: www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough extends from 10N86W to 06N90W. The ITCZ continues from 06N90W to 02N110W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 04N to 07N between 90W and 98W, and from 06N to 08N between 117W and 120W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features section above for details on a Gale Warning for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Moderate to fresh NW to N winds over the waters north of 20N including the Gulf of California will diminish tonight, and 6-9 ft seas in the area will subside tonight. Mainly gentle winds are occurring off the west coast of mainland Mexico south of 20N. Another cold front with increasing winds and a set of large NW swell may impact the waters west of Baja California during the upcoming weekend. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh NE to E winds are noted within and downstream of the Papagayo region. Light to gentle winds prevail elsewhere. Sea heights range from 3-6 ft. Fresh to strong NE to E winds will pulse across the Papagayo region through early next week. Seas associated with these winds will be 5-7 ft. Moderate to fresh winds will pulse over the Gulf of Panama this weekend into early next week. Light to gentle winds will continue to prevail elsewhere. Large seas from upcoming Gulf of Tehuantepec gap winds this weekend may spread into the offshore waters of Guatemala and El Salvador. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Trade winds are moderate to fresh north of the ITCZ to 20N due to the pressure gradient between the ITCZ and the subtropical ridge. Seas are mainly 6-9 ft north of the ITCZ in old mixed swell, and 5-7 ft south of the ITCZ. A cold front has entered the northwest waters extending from 30N135W to 26N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 90 nm southeast of the front. Some fresh to strong S to SW winds are occurring ahead of the front per recent scatterometer data. These winds ahead of the front are forecast to diminish tonight. The front will continue east across waters N of 25N into the end of the week. Moderate to fresh winds are expected behind the front. NW swell will spill into the area late tonight and continue propagating south and east into the weekend. Winds will likely increase to fresh to strong during the weekend as strong high pressure north of the area settles south. $$ Lewitsky