000 AXPZ20 KNHC 280406 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sat Jan 28 2023 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 Gale Warning: Northerly winds associated with a strong surface ridge across the Gulf of Mexico are funneling across the Chivela Pass in southern Mexico. The accelerated gap winds are gale force up to 40 kt supporting seas to 14 ft in the region of Tehuantepec. Gale-force winds will persist into Sat morning, then fresh to near gale force winds will gradually diminish to moderate to fresh speeds through Sun morning. Currently, the fetch of fresh N to NE winds and seas greater than 8 ft reach 11N106W and is forecast to amplify and reach to 107W Sat before starting to diminish Sat night. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 06N77W to 05N90W to 03N100W. The ITCZ axis extends from 03N100W to 06N114W then resumes W of a surface trough near 06N18W and continues beyond 06N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 00N to 04N E of 87W, and from 02N to 09N W of 130W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section for information on the gale warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. A strong high pressure centered well northwest of the area extends a ridge SE across the Baja California offshore waters and portions of the Gulf of California supporting moderate northerly winds along the gulf. Gentle to moderate NE winds are across the Baja California Norte offshore waters with seas in the 5-7 ft range. Light to gentle variable winds and seas to 7 ft in NW swell are over the remainder Baja and SW Mexican offshore waters. For the forecast, aside from the gale in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, a cold front is forecast to move across the Baja California Norte offshore waters late Mon with building winds and seas N of Punta Eugenia. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Strong to near gale force NE-E gap winds are across the Gulf of Papagayo region and Nicaragua offshore waters along with seas of 8 to 10 ft. Wind waves of 8 to 11 ft associated with the gale- force gap wind in the Tehuantepec region are extending across the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters. Fresh N winds are ongoing in the Gulf of Panama with seas to 6 ft. Elsewhere, gentle variable winds and seas to 5 ft prevail. For the forecast, surface ridging extending S to the Caribbean will force strong to near gale force NE winds over the Gulf of Papagayo region through the middle of next week. Seas to 11 ft will continue through Sat night. Moderate to fresh N to NE winds in the Gulf of Panama will increase to fresh to strong speeds tonight through early Sun with seas building to 8 ft. Meanwhile, swell from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind will continue to support seas to 11 ft in the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters through Sat night. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A strong high pressure centered well N of the area extends a ridge S to near 12N. This is maintaining a somewhat tight pressure gradient against the ITCZ, which continues to support moderate to fresh winds from 07N to 27N and W of 120W. Seas are 8 to 9 ft, under the influence of NW swell. Otherwise, gentle to moderate E to SE winds are occurring south of the ITCZ. For the forecast, NW swell will slowly subside through the weekend. A new set of NW swell will drop south of 30N Sun night into Mon, along with fresh winds. Meanwhile, the moderate to fresh tradewinds will continue through the middle of next week. $$ Ramos