921 AXPZ20 KNHC 200817 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Mon Mar 20 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0800 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A strong cold front has moved through the Gulf of Mexico. Cool, dense air behind the front along with a tight pressure gradient associated with high pressure building in the wake of the front will together support northerly gap winds to gale force into the Gulf of Tehuantepec today. Winds will diminish below gale tonight as the high pressure north of the area shifts eastward. Fresh to strong gap winds will persist over the Gulf of Tehuantepec into Tue. Wave heights may reach as high as 16 ft, with rough seas reaching as far as 420 nm downstream today. Wave heights will subside below 8 ft across the area early Tue. Pacific Gale Warning near 30N130W: A cold front currently northwest of the area will move eastward across the waters north of 25N into Wed. The cold air and strong high pressure building behind this front will support winds to gale force mainly north of the area starting tonight, with strong to near-gale force winds north of 25N into Wed. Winds to gale force will reach as far south as 29N Tue. These winds will diminish below gale force late Tue, but strong to near- gale force winds will persist north of 28N east of 125W through Tue night. Pacific Significant Swell Event: The other hazard from the aforementioned cold front will be large NW swell following the front, with seas reaching as high as 17 to 19 ft Tue and Wed north of 27N. Wave heights in excess of 12 ft will reach as far south as 23N Wed into Wed night before subsiding. Looking ahead, even as the NW swell decays Thu into Fri, it will mix with increasing shorter- period waves associated with NE trade winds, with combined significant wave heights reaching 12 ft mainly from 05N to 25N, west of 110W. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The ITCZ extends from 04N112W to 00N127W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 02N to 06N between 113W and 123W. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features section for details on the gale warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec region. Elsewhere off Mexico, weak high pressure dominates most of the waters. Light to gentle winds are present most areas, with seas of 2 to 4 ft, except less than 2 ft in the Gulf of California. For the forecast, a weak cold front will approach the waters offshore Baja California Norte today, then dissipate as it moves E across the northern Gulf of California tonight. A stronger cold front will cross the same area Tue night into Wed. Fresh to locally strong SW to W gap winds will develop in the northern Gulf behind the first front and continue until the second front passes. Fresh to locally strong W to NW winds can be expected offshore Baja California Tue into Thu night, along with seas of 8 to 12 ft in NW swell. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh gap winds are occurring across the Gulf of Papagayo due to high pressure building N of the area. Elsewhere, light to gentle variable winds prevail over the offshore waters of Central America and South America along with seas of 3 to 5 ft in SW swell. For the forecast, fresh to locally strong gap winds will pulse across the Gulf of Papagayo and the coast of Nicaragua tonight, before a more sustained gap wind sets up Tue night. Moderate to fresh N to NE winds can be expected over the Gulf of Panama as well starting tonight. Large swell associated with a gale in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will be well off the coast of Guatemala through tonight. Gentle to moderate winds and slight seas will prevail elsewhere. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see Special Features section above for details on a gale warning well west of Baja California Norte Tue as well as significant seas over the northern waters into mid week. A cold front extends from 30N118W to 26N120W. Another cold front is noted just NW of the forecast waters at 30N140W. Weak ridging is dominating S of these fronts. Moderate to fresh trade winds mainly from 05N to 15N west of 125W are supporting 5 to 7 ft combined seas in that area. Generally slight seas are noted elsewhere. For the forecast, the first front will weaken over Baja California today, then dissipate tonight. The next from will move east across the northern waters through Wed. Farther east, NE swell generated from the Tehuantepec gale will reach into Pacific waters as far west at 105W through tonight, then subside. Gentle breezes and slight seas will persist elsewhere east of 110W through mid week. $$ KONARIK