000 AXPZ20 KNHC 280830 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Fri Jan 28 2022 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 0840 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A strong cold front will move across the Gulf of Mexico today. High pressure will build in the wake of the front. The tightening pressure gradient between this area of building high pressure and the equatorial trough in the eastern north Pacific will usher in a strong gale- force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Winds will increase to gale- force this evening, and peak as a strong gale late tonight and and Sat. Winds are expected to diminish below gale force Sun afternoon, but remain strong through Sun night. Seas will peak near 18 ft with a large area of 12 ft reaching to as far as 10N100W. Please read the latest NWS Offshore Zones Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAOFFPZ7.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 08N78W to 06N104W. The ITCZ extends from 06N140W to 09N120W to 04N132W to 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 08N to 10N between 120W and 130W, and from 08N to 18N between 135W and 140W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO Please see the Special Features section above for more information on an upcoming Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind gale event. Strong to near- gale N gap winds currently prevail over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Fresh to strong winds prevail over the central portion of the Gulf of California, with moderate to fresh winds elsewhere over the Gulf. Gentle to moderate winds prevail over the remainder of the open waters off Mexico. Seas are 6-7 ft over the Gulf of Tehuantepec, 5-6 ft over the open waters off Mexico, and 3-5 ft over the Gulf of California. For the forecast, see the Special Features section for the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale- force gap wind event. Building high pressure over the Great Basin will help produce fresh to strong NW winds over the entire Gulf of California through Sat morning. Building high pressure west of California early next week is expected to produce increasing NW winds and building seas over the waters west of Baja California Norte and the N Gulf of California. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Fresh to strong NE gap winds are occurring across the Papagayo region with seas in the 5-6 ft range. Light to moderate winds are occurring elsewhere with seas of 3-5 ft. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE winds will pulse in the Papagayo region Sat night through Mon night. Moderate to fresh N winds will continue in the Gulf of Panama until Mon night. Over the remainder of the area, winds will remain tranquil for the next several days. Large NW swell from an upcoming Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event will spread to the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters Sat morning through Sun morning. REMAINDER OF THE AREA High pressure of 1030 mb is centered near 38N119W. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting moderate to fresh winds north of the ITCZ. Light to gentle winds prevail south of the ITCZ. Seas are in the 5-7 ft range. For the forecast, a surface trough is forecast to amplify over the open high seas near 127W during the weekend. The deepening trough will be accompanied by fresh to strong NE to E winds along with building seas within an area roughly bounded from 10N- 22N and between 125W-135W. These conditions are expected Sat through Sun night. It is possible that a low could briefly form along the trough. If this transpires, then near-gale to gale force winds could occur within that area on Sun. Seas are anticipated to peak near 12 ft. Looking ahead, on Mon and Tue strong high pressure building west of California is expected to produce increasing N to NE winds and building seas north of 27N. The seas will be a product of both the N to NE wind waves and large long-period NW swell. $$ AL