336 AXPZ20 KNHC 221550 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Fri Dec 22 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1530 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure centered over the W Gulf of Mexico along with lower pressures over the tropical E Pacific are forcing gale-force N gap winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Gale conditions will continue in the area through this morning, then diminish to strong to near-gale force through Sat. Current peak seas are near 11 ft. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Colombia near 03N78W to 02N82W. The ITCZ extends from 02N82W to beyond 06N140W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted from 05N-11N and W of 125W. Scattered moderate convection prevails from 03N-10N between between 93W-106W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section for details on the ongoing Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning. A cold front extends from 30N117W to 22N124W. Moderate to fresh winds are behind this front. Otherwise, a weak pressure gradient prevails across the area with moderate or less winds occurring. Seas are 3-6 ft in the area, except for waters west of Baja California Norte where seas are 8-10 ft in NW swell. Seas in the Gulf of California are 2-3 ft. For the forecast, the cold front will move SE through waters W of Baja California as well as most of the Gulf of California through today before gradually dissipating into the weekend. Elsewhere, winds across the area will be moderate or weaker. At the extended range, high pressure building over the U.S. Great Basin should funnel fresh to strong NW winds over the Gulf of California Mon through Tue night. NW swell will propagate southeastward across the waters west of Baja California through today before diminishing Sat. The next set of large NW swell will move into the Baja California Norte waters Sun through early next week. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... A high pressure centered NE of the area is forcing fresh to strong NE winds over the Gulf of Papagayo region. Seas are near 8 ft withing this area. Fresh N winds are also occurring over the Gulf of Panama with seas 4 to 6 ft. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker. NW swell with seas to 7 ft in the Guatemala offshore waters are being generated by Gulf of Tehuantepec gales. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE winds will prevail over the Gulf of Papagayo region through Sat night. Fresh N winds will continue over the Gulf of Panama until diminishing to moderate today. Elsewhere, winds are expected to be moderate or weaker for the next several days. NW swell generated by Gulf of Tehuantepec gales will continue to impact the Guatemala-El Salvador offshore waters through tonight. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... NW swell with seas of 8 to 10 ft are continuing to impact the waters north of 08N and west of 120W. These seas will gradually diminish today, but remain above 8 ft through Sun. A cold front extends from 30N117W to 22N124W. NW winds prevail west of the front. NW swell prevails across the basin, with seas to 10 ft mainly near and north of 24N. Elsewhere, the trades are moderate or weaker with seas 5-7 ft. For the forecast, the cold front and an accompanying low center will progress eastward with NW winds north of 26N east of 120W dropping below fresh tonight as the low dissipates and the front weakens. Likewise, the NE trades will weaken to moderate across the waters Sat. The NW swell will continue propagating southeastward while gradually diminishing. 8 ft or greater seas with the swell will reach from 10N140W to 23N117W tonight. Elsewhere, seas will be 6-8 ft. $$ ERA