000 AXPZ20 KNHC 201005 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Sun Mar 20 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 0920 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... A Gale Warning remains in effect for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Minimal gale force northerly winds are ongoing across the Tehuantepec region with seas to 11 t ft. Winds will diminish below gale-force early this afternoon, however fresh to strong northerly winds, with frequent gusts to gale force, will persist downwind of the Gulf to about 11N97W through early this evening. This gap wind event is forecast to end early on Monday morning. Please, see the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 07N78W to 06N86W to 04N95W. The ITCZ continues from 04N95W to 02N111W to 03N130W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 01N to 07N between 80W and 113W, and from 03N to 10N W of 130W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO A Gale Warning remains in effect for the Gulf of Tehunatepec. Please, see the Special Features section for details. A cold front begins to enter the Baja California Norte offshore waters this morning. The gradient between the front and strong high pressure NW of it is supporting fresh to locally strong NW winds N of Punta Eugenia with seas of 8-11 ft in moderate NW swell. Moderate to fresh NW winds are elsewhere along the Baja California offshore waters with seas of 5-7 ft. Moderate to fresh SW winds are in the northern Gulf of California, while light to gentle variable winds are elsewhere along the Gulf. Light to gentle NW winds are along the SW Mexican offshore waters where wave heights of 4-6 ft prevail. For the forecast, fresh to strong winds associated with the cold front will spread southward reaching the waters N of Cabo San Lazaro by this evening. SW winds in the northern Gulf of California will reach strong speeds this morning and become NW winds that will extend to the entrance of the gulf before diminishing to moderate to locally fresh speeds tonight. By tonight, fresh to locally strong NW winds will dominate the entire Baja California offshore waters, including Los Cabos area with seas in the 8-12 ft range propagating across the waters N of Cabo San Lazaro. Winds and seas will start to diminish along the Baja California offshores by Mon evening. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Fresh to strong gap winds are blowing across the Papagayo region with seas of 5-8 ft. Gentle to moderate northerly winds are in the Gulf of Panama where seas are 3-5 ft. Light to gentle winds are elsewhere along with wave heights of 3-5 ft due to SW swell. For the forecast, fresh NE to E winds are expected across the Papagayo region through early Tue, with seas to 8 ft continuing through Mon night. Moderate to fresh N winds are expected in the Gulf of Panama at night through Sun night. Cross equatorial SW swell will continue to affect the offshore forecast waters with seas of 3-5 ft. REMAINDER OF THE AREA A 1031 mb high pressure system centered near 35N136W dominates the waters N of the ITCZ and W of about 110W. This high pressure center is just to the north of a cold front that is currently clipping the northern forecast waters W of 125W. The front will continue to move SE reaching the offshore waters of northern Baja California tonight while weakening. This weather pattern will bring increasing winds and building seas across much of the forecast waters W of 110W. The high pressure will shift E tonight, and will remain nearly stationary on Sun. This combined with lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ will result in a large area of fresh to strong trade winds across the west- central waters tonight. Seas of 8-10 ft are expected within the area of trade winds. $$ Ramos