000 AXPZ20 KNHC 241603 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1530 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 996 mb gale-force low near 32N136W is producing strong to near-gale force NW winds and seas of 13 to 18 ft in the northwest waters, north of 26N and west of 136W. The low pressure will drift southward into our area of responsibility, reaching near 27N136W early Sun morning. Gales will spread across the area north of 25.5N and west of 136W this morning through early Sun morning. Very large northerly swell generated from this low will propagate southward and continue to impact the western and central subtropical waters. Seas of 20 to 26 ft are expected this afternoon through Sun morning north of 25N and west of 137W. Seas over 12 ft will spread as far south as 17N and as far east as 129W through Sun night before gradually subsiding early next week. The low pressure will weaken and move N of the area Sun night into early Mon. 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 07N78W to 03N88W to 04N104W. The ITCZ stretches from 04N104W to 05N121W to 02N133W to 02N140W. Scattered moderate convection is observed from 02N to 08N between 102W 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 1016 mb high pressure system located near 26N121W is squeezed between a strong low pressure to the west-northwest and lower pressures over Mexico. The weak gradient west of Baja California results in light to gentle northerly winds there. Seas in these waters are 4-7 ft. Moderate to locally fresh northerly winds and seas of 2-4 ft are found in the central and southern Gulf of California waters, while weaker winds and slight seas prevail in the northern Gulf of California. 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 in the Gulf of Tehuantepec 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 through Mon. Winds in the northern Gulf of California could increase to fresh to strong by Mon night or Tue. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Moderate to fresh northeasterly gap winds are present in the Gulf of Papagayo region. Seas in these waters are 4-6 ft. Moderate northerly winds and seas of 3-5 ft are evident in the Gulf of Panama. Seas of 6 to 7 ft in primarily NW swell are present to the east of the Galapagos Islands. 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 fresh speeds Sat night and fresh to strong Sun night. ...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. An earlier scatterometer satellite pass showed moderate to occasionally fresh easterly winds south of 20N and north of the ITCZ. Seas in these waters are 6-8 ft. Elsewhere, 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. $$ Hagen