000 AXPZ20 KNHC 170945 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Mon May 17 2021 Tropical Weather Discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from 03.4S to 30N, east of 120W including the Gulf of California, and from the Equator to 30N, between 120W and 140W. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis. Based on 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0930 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from northern Colombia to 09N79W to 08N90W to 09N110W to 08N115W and to 09N130W, where overnight scatterometer data indicates that it transitions to the ITCZ to 05N135W and to beyond 05N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is within 240 nm south of the trough between 78W- 80W and within 60 nm of trough between 104W-107W. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm north of the trough between 111W-113W and within 30 nm of the trough between 105W-108W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A ridge dominates the offshore forecast waters of Baja California producing mainly moderate to locally fresh northwest to north winds. A small area of fresh to strong northwest winds is noted near Cabo San Lucas. These winds are forecast to continue through late Tue night. Fresh to locally strong northwest winds are expected primarily north of Cabo San Lazaro this evening and into Tue as the pressure gradient tightens some. Seas will build to 5-7 ft. Winds will further increase to fresh to strong speeds mainly west of central and northern Baja California beginning late Thu as stronger high pressure builds southeastward across the waters west of Baja California. South to southwest swell will build seas as it propagates across the waters north of Punta Eugenia beginning on Tue. Looking ahead for later in the week, a trough or low may form south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec region. Gulf of California: The earlier fresh to strong southwest winds over the northern section of the Gulf have become west to northwest 10-15 kt winds, with seas of 3-4 ft. These winds will become moderate to fresh and southeast in direction through Thu, then fresh southwest winds Thu night. The seas will build slightly Thu, then up to 6 ft Thu night. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate southerly winds are expected through Thu, with seas of 3-4 ft, except slightly higher seas in the southern section. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh northeast to east winds across the Papagayo region will become gentle east winds in the afternoon, then shift to the south tonight before becoming moderate northeast to east winds early on Tue and variable thereafter through mid-week. Seas of 5-7 ft will change little through mid-week. Long-period cross equatorial southerly swell will continue to impact the offshore forecast waters over the next several days. Seas of 8-9 ft between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands will subside to less than 8 ft late tonight. Additional pulses of long-period southwest swell will reach the area by mid-week building seas to 8 ft or higher. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A rather broad surface ridge is the main feature over the northern forecast waters. It is anchored by a 1028 mb high center that is located north of the area near 36N139W. The pressure gradient between the high pressure and lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ is allowing for mainly moderate to locally fresh trade winds from 11N to 19N between 120W-136W, with peak seas of 8 ft. Gentle to moderate trade winds are noted elsewhere, with seas in the range of 6-7 ft mainly due to a southerly swell component. Long-period cross equatorial southerly swell over the waters south of about 10N and east of about 111W, except in the lee of the Galapagos Islands will decay late tonight, but additional pulses of long-period southwest swell will begin to propagate through these same waters by mid-week building seas to a maximum height of 10 or 11 ft west of the Galapagos Islands. A couple of weak low-level perturbations are moving westward along the ITCZ west of 130W, and are helping to enhance the scattered shower and thunderstorm activity along and near the ITCZ over that part of the area. These perturbations will continue migrating westward through Tue. $$ Aguirre