000 AXPZ20 KNHC 202140 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2040 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... A Gale Warning has recently ended across the Gulf of Tehuantepec area. Minimal gale force northerly winds occurring there last night and this morning have diminished in recent hours to near 30 kt. Fresh to strong northerly winds with gusts to gale force will persist downwind of the Gulf to about 13.5N96W through early this evening. Fresh to strong N gap winds are then expected to continue tonight but remain confined to the immediate Gulf waters N of 14N before ending around midday Mon. 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 08N87W to 03N102W. The ITCZ continues from 03N102W to 05N111W to 03N121W to beyond 05.5N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 00N to 07N E of 89W, and from 04.5N to 08.5N between 97W and 118W. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted from 05N to 10N W of 133W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO A cold front has moved SE across the Baja California Norte offshore waters and northern Gulf of California today, and extends from the Tiburon Basin of the Gulf across central Baja to near 23.5N128W. The pressure gradient between the front and strong high pressure NW of it is supporting fresh to strong NW winds N of Punta Eugenia with seas of 8-12 ft in NW swell. Moderate to fresh NW to N winds are elsewhere along the Baja California offshore waters with seas of 5-8 ft. Fresh SW to W winds are in the northern Gulf of California, where seas are 3-6 ft. 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. Fresh to strong winds associated with the cold front will spread southward reaching the waters N of Cabo San Lazaro during the next few hours this afternoon. SW to W winds in the northern Gulf of California will shift southward and become strong NW late this afternoon and evening to the N of 27N, with seas building to 6-8 ft. NW winds will then spread southward across the remainder of the Gulf tonight and diminish to moderate to fresh. Across the Baja offshore waters, fresh to locally strong NW winds will dominate the entire offshore waters tonight, 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 and remain more tranquil through Wed. Looking ahead, strong N gap winds are expected to return to Tehuantepec early Thu and could reach gale force again Thu afternoon or 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 5-7 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. Fresh NE to E winds are expected across the Papagayo region, pulsing to strong each night through early morning, continuing through Tue, before diminishing modestly through Thu. Peak seas tonight through Tue morning will reach near 8 ft offshore. Moderate to fresh N winds are expected in the Gulf of Panama at night through Mon night before diminishing. Cross equatorial SW swell will continue to affect the offshore forecast waters with seas of 3-5 ft. REMAINDER OF THE AREA A 1033 mb high pressure system centered near 35N132W 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 offshore waters and adjacent NE waters along about 128W. The front will continue to move SE reaching the offshore waters of Baja California Sure tonight before dissipating Mon. This weather pattern will bring increasing winds and building seas across much of the forecast waters W of 110W. The high pressure will drift SW and weaken slightly through Tue. 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 W of 125W through Tue night. Seas of 8-10 ft are expected within the area of trade winds. $$ Stripling