000 AXPZ20 KNHC 100911 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Wed Jan 10 2024 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 0900 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure over the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico is supporting minimal gale force winds, with higher gusts, in the Tehuantepec region. A recent scatterometer pass confirmed the presence of these winds. Seas are 8 to 10 ft. This will be a short-lived gap wind event. Winds are forecast to diminish below gale force early this morning, and will be 20 kt or less by early this afternoon. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Costa Rica near 10N85W to 06N95W to 09N110W to 08N114W. The ITCZ continues from 04N114W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 03N to 06N between 89W and 100W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A Gale Warning remains in effect for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Please, see the Special Features section above for details. Elsewhere, a ridge dominates the offshore forecast waters of Baja California producing moderate to fresh NW to N winds. Seas are 6 to 8 ft in long period NW swell. Fresh to strong NW to N winds are noted across the Gulf of California S of 29N, with seas of 4 to 6 ft. For the remainder of the waters, winds are moderate or weaker, with seas of 4 to 7 ft primarily in NW swell. For the forecast, high pressure over the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico is forcing a short-lived gale- force northerly gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. These winds will diminish below gale force early this morning. A dissipating cold front will move across the offshore waters of Baja California Norte tonight, followed by fresh to strong NW winds and additional NW swell. Seas are expected to build to 12 ft on Thu. High pressure over the U.S. Great Basin continues to support fresh to strong winds over most of the Gulf of California. These winds will diminish to 20 kt or less this morning, then resume again Thu morning into Fri as another weakening cold front moves across the area. Looking ahead, the next gap wind event is expected in the Tehuantepec region on Sat. Winds are forecast to reach gale force, with seas likely building to 11 or 12 ft. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate or weaker winds and seas of 4 to 6 ft are noted across the offshore forecast waters. Southerly winds dominate the waters between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. For the forecast, gentle to moderate winds will prevail with seas of 3 to 5 ft, subsiding to 2 to 4 ft Thu through Sat, except SW of the Galapagos Islands where seas of 4 to 6 ft will persist. Looking ahead, winds are forecast to increase to fresh to strong speeds in the Gulf of Papagayo Sat night into Sun. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A 1032 mb high pressure is centered N of the area near 38N136W with a ridge extending southeastward to near the Revillagigedo Islands. The moderate pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the vicinity of the ITCZ is forcing fresh NE to E trades from 17N to 26N west of 130W. Seas of 8 to 10 ft in long period NW swell combined with NE wind waves dominate most of the waters N of 06N and W of 110W. For the forecast, as the high weakens slightly north of the area, the NE trades will diminish some through Sat night. A low pressure system moving NE west of 140W will bring increasing southerly winds across the NW corner of the forecast region Thu night into Fri, with building seas of 8 to 11 ft late on Fri, and probably to 10 to 14 ft on Sat. $$ GR