000 AXPZ20 KNHC 240323 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sat Feb 24 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0315 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A cold front is moving across the Gulf of Mexico and building high pressure behind the front will tighten the pressure gradient over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Strong to gale-force northerly winds are forecast tonight through early Sun morning. Seas will peak near 12 ft Sat night. Winds and seas in the Tehuantepec region will then diminish Sun into Mon. NW Pacific Gale Warning: A 996 mb gale-force low near 34N133W is producing strong to near gale NW winds and seas to 17 ft in the northwest waters of the eastern Pacific. The low will drift southward into the far NW waters during the weekend. Gales with this low are forecast over the NW waters midday Sat through Sun morning. Additionally, very large swell generated from this low will propagate southward and continue to impact the western and central subtropical waters. Seas greater than 12 ft associated with this swell will impact much of the waters north of 20N and west of 130W through late Sun night. Seas will peak near 26 ft Sat night. Conditions will improve late Sun into Mon as the low weakens and moves north of the area. Please read the latest High Seas and Offshore Waters Forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores_eastpac.php for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The equatorial trough extends from 09N83W to 04N95W to 03N112W. The ITCZ stretches from 03N112W to 04N119W. A surface trough is analyzed along 123W, south of 09N. The ITCZ then continues from 04N126W to beyond 01N140W. Scattered moderate convection is from 03N to 08N and between 92W and 123W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please read the Special Features section above for information about the Gale Warning for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. A weak pressure pattern is prevalent across NW Mexico and the offshore waters, sustaining light to gentle northerly winds and seas of 5-7 ft across the offshore waters of Baja California. Gentle to moderate northerly winds and seas of 3-6 ft are evident in the Gulf of California. However, fresh to locally strong N-NW winds are present in the nearshore waters of SW Mexico, especially around Cabo Corrientes. Seas in these waters are 5-7 ft. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. For the forecast, the pressure gradient will tighten over the Gulf of Tehuantepec tonight as high pressure builds behind a cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico. This will support strong to gale force N winds tonight through early Sun morning. Seas will peak near 12 ft Sat night. Winds and seas in the Tehuantepec region will then diminish Sun into Mon. Elsewhere over the Mexican offshore waters, winds should generally remain moderate or weaker for the next several days. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR The aforementioned cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico has lessened the pressure gradient across the region, resulting in gentle to moderate N-NE winds and seas of 3-6 ft in the Gulfs of Papagayo and Panama. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. For the forecast, moderate easterly winds across and downstream the Gulf of Papagayo will strengthen to near gale-force Sat night through early next week. Seas will build to 9 ft during the strongest winds. Moderate to occasionally fresh N to NE winds in the Gulf of Panama will reach strong speeds Sat night and continue for the next several days. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please read the Special Features section above for information about the Gale Warning in the far NW waters. The strong low pressure north of our area has lessened the pressure gradient across the basin, resulting in moderate or weaker winds in the easterly trades region. Seas in these waters are 6-9 ft. Elsewhere, slight to gentle winds and moderate seas are prevalent. For the forecast aside from Gale Warning area, the weak pressure gradient will support mainly moderate easterly winds south of 20N through Sat. Winds will increase to moderate to locally strong Sat night through early next week in areas of the trades region as the low pressure weakens and moves north of the area. Seas of 8-11 ft will continue across the trades region over the next several days. $$ Delgado