000 AXPZ20 KNHC 062202 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Tue Feb 6 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2030 UTC. Updated Offshore Waters sections ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between a ridge of high pressure along the eastern slopes of Mexico and the eastern north Pacific equatorial trough is supporting near-gale to strong gale-force gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, which will continue until early Wed morning. Combined seas will peak at 14 to 16 ft under these winds. As the ridge shifts eastward into the southeastern United States, pressure gradient will decrease across the Tehuantepec area, allowing winds and seas to subside Wed afternoon. Mariners in the area need to monitor this situation closely and plan their route accordingly. Significant N Swell: A set of northerly swell is propagating southeastward across the east Pacific, producing seas of 12 to 15 ft west of a line from 30N125W to 26N122W to 05N140W, with the highest seas near 29N136W. The southern component of this swell will continue to propagate southward, while the northern component will begin to decay over night. By Wed afternoon, the area of 12 to 15 ft seas is expected to be west of a line from 20N127W to 10N121W, and will gradually decay further and decrease in coverage into the weekend. Please read the latest High Seas and Offshore Waters Forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center at the website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml and https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores_eastpac.php for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... An equatorial trough extends from 09N79W to 02N95W. An ITCZ continues from 02N95W to 08N123W...and then from 07N129W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is found up to 60 nm along either side of the trough, and up to 120 nm along either side of the ITCZ. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... See the Special Features Section for information on a gale warning for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force gap wind event, a cold front is moving across the waters off Baja California Norte. Moderate to locally fresh southerly winds are within 30 nm east of the front. Gentle to locally moderate winds are elsewhere over the remainder of the discussion waters. NW swell off Baja California Norte is supporting seas of 7-9 ft. Seas of 5-7 ft prevail elsewhere over the open waters off Mexico. Seas of 3 ft or less are over the Gulf of California, except for the entrance to the Gulf where seas are reaching 4 ft. For the forecast, strong to gale-force gap winds and very rough seas will persist at the Gulf of Tehuantepec through early Wed morning, then improve in the afternoon. Fresh to strong winds behind a cold front are expected in the far northern Gulf of California through Thu morning. Large, long-period NW swell will penetrate further into the offshore waters of Baja California Norte today, and enter the waters off Baja California Sur late tonight into Wed. Rough seas caused by this swell will persist through Fri before improving this weekend. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Gentle to locally moderate winds prevail across the discussion area. Seas are in the 4-5 ft range. For the forecast, swell generated by gale-force gap winds in the Tehuantepec region will bring rough seas to the outer offshore waters of Guatemala and El Salvador until Wed afternoon. Fresh to strong gap winds along with rough seas will develop in the Papagayo region late tonight, and in the Gulf of Panama on Wed. Conditions at both locations should improve later this weekend. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... See the Special Features Section for information on an ongoing large swell event. Aside from the large swell, a cold front enters the discussion waters near 30N117W to 20N121W to 10N140W. High pressure is centered NW of the area near 34N149W. The pressure gradient between the area of high pressure and the cold front is supporting fresh to strong N to NE winds over the waters N of the cold front and W of 128W. Gentle to moderate winds generally prevail elsewhere. Aside from the area of 12 ft seas, seas greater than 8 ft cover the waters NW of a line from 30N117W to 09N130W to 03N140W. Elsewhere, seas of 6-7 ft prevail. For the forecast, fresh to strong trade winds will develop N of the ITCZ today as high pressure builds over the area in the wake of the front. $$ Chan