000 AXPZ20 KNHC 240910 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0855 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure building behind a cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico has tightened the pressure gradient over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Strong to gale- force northerly winds are forecast today through early Sun morning. Seas will peak near 12 ft tonight. Winds and seas in the Tehuantepec region will then diminish Sun into Mon. NW Pacific Gale Warning: A 994 mb gale-force low near 34N135W is producing fresh to strong NW winds and seas to 16 ft in the northwest waters of the eastern Pacific. The low will drift southward into the far NW waters through the weekend. Gales with this low are forecast over the NW waters midday today through Sun morning. Additionally, very large northerly 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 09N84W to 04N95W to 03N111W. The ITCZ stretches from 03N111W to 04N119W. A surface trough is analyzed along 123W, south of 09N. The ITCZ then continues from 05N126W to beyond 02N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is observed from 03N to 08N and between 99W and 110W. ...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 1018 mb high pressure system located near 26N121W is squeezed between a strong low pressure to the northwest and lower pressures over Mexico. The weak gradient result in light to gentle northerly winds across the offshore waters of the Baja California peninsula. This was captured by a recent scatterometer satellite pass. Seas in these waters are 4-6 ft. Moderate northerly winds and seas of 2-4 ft are found in the central Gulf of California waters, while weaker winds and slight seas prevail in the remainder of the gulf. Outside of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas are evident in the rest of the Mexican offshore waters. For the forecast, high pressure over NE Mexico will force strong to gale force N winds through early Sun morning. Seas will peak near 12 ft tonight. 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 Moderate to locally fresh easterly trade winds are present in the Gulf of Papagayo region due to a weak pressure pattern. Seas in these waters are 4-7 ft, with the highest seas occurring in the far offshore waters near 09N91W. Moderate to locally fresh northerly winds and seas of 3-6 ft are evident in the Gulf of 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 11 ft Sun. Moderate to occasionally fresh N to NE winds in the Gulf of Panama will pulse to 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. Outside of the system described in the Special Features, weak high pressure dominates the remainder of the eastern tropical Pacific. A recent scatterometer satellite pass show moderate to occasionally fresh easterly winds south of 20N. Seas in these waters are 6-8 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 today. Fresh to locally strong NE-E winds will spread downstream from the Gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo, affecting the eastern waters tonight through early next week. Seas will build to 9 ft late Sun. Farther west, winds will increase to fresh to locally strong in the western waters early next week. Seas will build to 11 ft late Mon. $$ Delgado