000 AXPZ20 KNHC 040846 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Fri Feb 4 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 0930 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Storm Warning: Strong high pressure will build in the wake of a cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico today. The pressure gradient will tighten between this building high pressure and the equatorial trough in the eastern Pacific. Strong N to NE winds will funnel into the Gulf of Tehuantepec this morning, rapidly increasing to gale-force and further increasing to storm-force late tonight into Sat. On Saturday, winds will diminish back to gale-force before diminishing below gale-force by Sun afternoon. Seas with this upcoming event are forecast to peak near 22 ft Sat. Mariners are urged to stay tuned to future forecasts that will highlight details regarding this upcoming event. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for further details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH...Corrected A surface trough extends from 04N80W to 06N92W to 06N102W. The ITCZ begins near 06N104W to 08N124W to 06N140W. Scattered moderate convection is from 10N to 14N west of 134W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO Please see the Special Features section above for information on an upcoming Gulf of Tehuantepec storm-force gap wind event. Fresh to strong NW winds continues along the Gulf of California with seas to 5 ft. These winds are funneling across the Baja California peninsula mountain passages into the Baja offshores wheres seas are in the 5 to 7 ft range in northerly swell. Light to gentle winds prevail over the remainder of the forecast waters with 4-6 ft seas. For the forecast, the pressure gradient between a ridge of high pressure across the waters west of Baja California and a surface trough over Mexico will support fresh to strong winds over the Gulf of California through Sat evening. Strong winds will also funnel through the Baja California peninsula mountain passages into the offshore waters during this period. The next gale-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec is expected Fri morning, increasing to storm-force Fri night, back to gale- force on Sat and diminishing below gale-force Sun evening. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail elsewhere. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Moderate to fresh gap winds prevail across the Papagayo region as well as over the Gulf of Panama. Light to gentle winds prevail elsewhere. Seas of 3-5 ft in S to SW swell are noted over the discussion waters. For the forecast, moderate to fresh NE winds in the Papagayo region will diminish slightly tonight, then increase to fresh to strong speeds Sat and Sat night. Moderate to fresh N winds over the Gulf of Panama will continue through the middle of next week. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will prevail across the Central American and equatorial waters. Swell generated from a storm-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will produce large seas over the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters this weekend into early next week. REMAINDER OF THE AREA High pressure of 1032 mb is centered north of the area. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting fresh to strong winds north of the ITCZ to near 25N and west of about 122W. Moderate to fresh winds are elsewhere north of the ITCZ and west of 115W. Seas over the area of strongest winds are in the 8-10 ft range as indicated by a recent altimeter data. Gentle to moderate winds and seas of 5-7 ft are elsewhere. For the forecast, the area of high pressure will remain north of the area the next several days. This will maintain an area of fresh to strong NE trades over the waters from 10N to 20N and west of 120W. The winds will start to diminish slowly beginning Fri and through the weekend. Seas of 8-10 ft will remain between 10N and 25N west of 120W through Fri. $$ Ramos