061 AXPZ20 KNHC 241606 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Sun Mar 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 1550 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of California: Strong high pressure and associated ridging behind a cold front moving across the Gulf of California this morning is supporting strong to gale-force W to NW winds in the central and northern Gulf. Seas in these regions of the Gulf are in the 5-9 ft. The cold front will weaken as it reaches Cabo San Lucas this afternoon and winds will diminish below gale-force while seas diminish to 5-7 ft. Strong to near gale force winds will continue across the northern and central Gulf through Mon morning as the cold front dissipates. By Mon afternoon, winds in the northern Gulf will be light to gentle, and moderate to fresh from the N to NW along the remainder Gulf. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more information. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from the coast of Costa Rica near 09N83W to 05N100W to 01S128W. The ITCZ continues from 01S132W to 01S140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 01N to 11N between 90W and 114W, and from 00N to 04N between 133W and 140W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section for more information on the Gale Warning in the Gulf of California. A cold front stretches from the central Gulf of California to Punta Abreojos in the Baja Peninsula to 21N121W. Strong high pressure and associated ridge behind the front is supporting fresh to strong NW winds behind the front, which is affecting the Baja California offshore waters N of Cabo San Lazaro. Seas in the 7 to 12 ft range in NW swell are also affecting the aforementioned region, the highest seas being N of Punta Eugenia. Ahead of the front to Cabo San Lucas adjacent waters, winds are moderate to fresh from the NW with 5-7 ft seas. Aside from the strong to gale-force winds in the central and northern Gulf of California, ahead of the front winds are moderate to fresh from the NW and seas are in the 3-5 ft range. Across the SW Mexico offshore waters, winds are light to gentle and seas are 4-5 ft in NW swell. Otherwise, moderate to locally fresh NW winds are in the Tehuantepec region, however winds will diminish this afternoon as return flow has established in the western Gulf of Mexico. For the forecast, the cold front will weaken as it reaches Cabo San Lucas this afternoon and winds will diminish below gale- force in the Gulf of California while seas diminish to 5-7 ft. Strong to near gale-force winds will continue across the northern and central Gulf through Mon morning as the cold front dissipates. By Mon afternoon, winds in the northern Gulf will be light to gentle, and moderate to fresh from the N to NW along the remainder Gulf. Meanwhile, fresh to strong winds will continue to follow the front across the Baja California offshore waters with rough to very rough seas through Mon. Winds off the Baja Peninsula will diminish to moderate speeds Mon night and seas will subside below 8 ft by Tue night into Wed. A brief gap wind event for the Tehuantepec region will occur tonight, bringing fresh to strong winds to the region along with 5 to 7 ft seas. Winds will continue to pulse around the region Mon and Tue. A stronger gap wind with potential gale winds is forecast to begin Wed night into Thu morning and continue through Fri morning. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR Light to gentle variable winds and moderate seas are ongoing across the Central America offshore waters as well as the offshore zones between the coast of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Scattered showers and tstms are noted south of the Galapagos Islands. For the forecast, light to gentle variable winds and moderate seas are forecast to prevail through Thu night. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Strong high pressure of 1034 mb NW of the area continues to extend a ridge across the subtropical E Pacific waters, reaching as far south as 10N and as far east as the Baja California offshore waters. A cold front is ahead of the ridge, which is moving across the central Gulf of California and the Baja Sur Peninsula. Fresh to stron NW winds extends farther west from the Baja offshores to near 127W while the ridge continues to support another area of fresh to strong trades from 04N to 22N W of 123W. Seas over the subtropical waters are in the 8 to 12 ft, highest in the regions of strongest winds. Light to gentle breezes are elsewhere south of the ITCZ and the equatorial trough. Seas range from 5 to 7 ft across these remainder Pacific waters. For the forecast, the cold front is expected to push eastward through today, eventually dissipating by tonight. Fresh to strong winds behind the cold front and north fo the ITCZ will continue through Mon night. Seas 8 to 10 ft will follow the front while combining with the wind waves near the ITCZ tonight. Seas could build to 15 ft east of 126W to the Baja California coast today. Moderate to fresh winds will continue north of the ITCZ through most of the week with seas to 10 ft. $$ Ramos