000 AXPZ20 KNHC 201618 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1530 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 peak seas to 11 ft. Winds will diminish below gale-force in the next few hours, however fresh to strong northerly winds, with gusts to gale force, will persist downwind of the Gulf to about 11N97W through this afternoon. 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 10N75W to 06.5N80W to 05N93W. The ITCZ continues from 04N95W to 05N105W to 03N117W to beyond 05.5N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 00N to 07.5N E of 89W. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted from 04.5N to 08.5N between 108W and 117W, and from 05N 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 has entered the Baja California Norte offshore waters this morning, and extends from Baja Norte near 30N115W to 25N124W. 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 8-10 ft in NW swell. Moderate to fresh NW winds are elsewhere along the Baja California offshore waters with seas of 5-8 ft. Moderate to fresh SW to W winds are in the northern Gulf of California, except strong NW winds in the extreme N part. Light to gentle variable winds are elsewhere along the Gulf. Light to gentle NW to N 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 to W 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 tonight. Cross equatorial SW swell will continue to affect the offshore forecast waters with seas of 3-5 ft. REMAINDER OF THE AREA A 1030 mb high pressure system centered near 35N134W dominates the waters N of the ITCZ and W of about 110W. This high pressure center is to the NW of a cold front that is across the Baja California Norte offshore waters and adjacent NE waters along about 124W. The front will continue to move SE reaching the offshore waters of central 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 remain nearly stationary today. 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 through tonight. Seas of 8-10 ft are expected within the area of trade winds. $$ Stripling