000 AXPZ20 KNHC 050328 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sat Feb 5 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0350 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Storm Warning: Strong high pressure, anchored by a 1041 mb high center over northern Mexico is building south across the western Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a cold front that extends from Cedar Key, Florida to the Yucatan peninsula. A tight pressure gradient between this building high pressure and the equatorial trough in the eastern Pacific is supporting strong N to NE gale-force winds to 45 kt with seas to 16 ft. These winds will continue to further increase and attain storm-force speeds from late tonight into most of Sat afternoon. By early Sat evening, winds will diminish back to strong gale-force, then diminish further to below gale-force by Sun afternoon as the tight gradient slackens. Seas with this upcoming event are forecast to peak to around near 22 ft Sat and begin to subside during Sun. 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 09N84W to 06N94W to 08N104W. The ITCZ begins near 06N106W and continues along 09N122W to 08N140W. Scattered moderate convection is from 08N to 14N between 114W and 134W, and from 08N to 18N W of 135W. 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 continue along the Gulf of California with seas to 6 ft. These winds are also funneling across the Baja California peninsula mountain passages into the Baja offshores where seas are 5-6 ft. Light to gentle winds remain over the remainder of the forecast waters. Seas are in the range of 4-5 ft. For the forecast, the pressure gradient between a ridge of high pressure across the waters west of Baja California and a surface trough over western Mexico will support fresh to strong NW winds over the Gulf of California through Sat evening. Strong winds will also continue to funnel through the Baja California peninsula mountain passages into the offshore waters during this period. A storm-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will begin tonight, continuing through Sat. Strong gale-force N to NE winds will resume afterwards and diminish below gale-force Sun afternoon. Gentle to moderate winds will remain elsewhere through Sun. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Fresh to strong NE gap winds are in the Papagayo region, while gentle to moderate N winds are in the Gulf of Panama. Light to gentle winds are elsewhere. Seas of 3-5 ft in S to SW swell are noted over the discussion waters. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE winds in the Papagayo are expected to reach near gale-force speeds Sat night. The gentle to moderate N winds in the Gulf of Panama will pulse to fresh speeds at night into the middle part of next week. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will prevail across the Central American and equatorial waters through Wed. 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...Updated High pressure of 1035 mb is centered north of the area near 37N132W. 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 23N and west of about 124W. 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 revealed by overnight altimeter data passes. Gentle to moderate winds and seas of 5-7 ft are present elsewhere over the area. A trough is along a position from near 14N113W to 09N120W. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are within 120 nm NW of the trough between 113W-115W, and within 60 nm SE of the trough between 117W-120W. An area of scattered moderate convection is occurring from 09N to 15N and W of 135W. This activity is being sustained by divergence aloft that is present to the E of a broad upper-level trough that covers the area from 08N to 20N and W of 135W. 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 25N and west of 120W. The winds will start to diminish slowly beginning Mon night into the middle of next week when seas of 8 ft will begin to subside. $$ Ramos