000 AXPZ20 KNHC 250331 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Fri Mar 25 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 0230 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: Northerly gale force winds of 30 to 40 kt are ongoing in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Gales are forecast to continue through Sat morning, before diminishing to near gale Sat afternoon. Seas are currently up to 12 ft and will increase to 13 to 14 ft late tonight through Fri morning. Winds and seas will decrease for the start of next week. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the 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 the Panama/Colombia border near 07N78W to 04N82W to 04N91W to 06N98W to 04N104W. The ITCZ extends from 04N110W to 06N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is present from 01S to 07N and between 84W and 102W. Isolated moderate convection is elsewhere from 01S to 07N between 77W and 105W. Scattered moderate convection is seen from 02N to 09N and between 110W and 130W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO Please see the Special Features section above for details about a Gale Warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Moderate NW winds are ongoing in the Gulf of California this evening as weak high pressure remains parked NW of the area. Seas are 1 to 3 ft over the Gulf. To the west of Baja California, gentle to moderate NW to N winds prevail with seas around 5 ft. Elsewhere offshore Mexico, mainly light to gentle variable winds are occurring, with 4 to 6 ft seas. For the forecast, moderate NW winds in the Gulf of California will diminish later tonight. Fresh to strong southerly winds will develop in the northern Gulf of California Sun night through Mon night ahead of a cold front. The front will bring in a large set of NW swell to the waters west of Baja California early next week. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, and WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Fresh to strong E winds are likely occurring offshore the Papagayo region tonight to 88WW, with fresh N winds in the Gulf of Panama. Gentle winds prevail elsewhere. Seas are averaging 4-6 ft. For the forecast, winds in the Papagayo region will continue to pulse to fresh to strong through early next week. Winds in the Gulf of Panama will pulse to fresh to locally strong Fri night and Sat night. Elsewhere, winds are forecast to be moderate or weaker into early next week. W swell from ongoing Gulf of Tehuantepec gap winds will begin impacting the Guatemala offshore zone tonight, then continue into Sat night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA A 1024 mb high pressure is centered near 35N130W, just north of our forecast area. The pressure gradient between the subtropical ridge and lower pressures in the deep tropics is causing moderate to fresh trades, primarily from 07N to 23N and W of 125W. Seas in the area described are 7-9 ft. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and 5-7 ft seas prevail. For the forecast, the high pressure north of our area is forecast to continue to weaken through Fri night, allowing the trades to diminish. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail over most of the Pacific waters late this week through the weekend. A robust extratropical low is expected to move eastward while centered well north of our 30N border this weekend, dragging an attendant cold front across the northern waters. This system is forecast to bring fresh to strong winds and building seas north of 25N west of 120W Sat night through Mon night, spreading east through early next week. Seas are forecast to peak at 12-18 ft Sun night through Mon. $$ Hagen