000 AXPZ20 KNHC 242205 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2130 UTC. ...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... A dissipating cold front stretches from Sinaloa, Mexico to Todos Santos in Baja California Sur to 20N117W. Strong high pressure and associated ridge behind the front is supporting fresh to strong NW winds behind the front, affecting all the Baja California Peninsula offshore waters along with 8 to 12 ft seas in long period NW swell. The stronger winds and seas are N of Punta Eugenia. In the northern Gulf of California, west winds have diminished to fresh to strong speeds while moderate to fresh NW winds are ongoing along the remainder Gulf. Seas are 4-6 ft along the Gulf. In the S and SW Mexican offshore waters, winds are gentle to moderate from the WNW and seas are 4-5 ft in NW swell. For the forecast, the weakening cold front will dissipate tonight after reaching Cabo San Lucas. However, fresh to near gale force winds will continue across the northern and central Gulf through Tue as a surface trough moves across the northern Gulf Mon night into Tue. Fresh to strong NW winds behind the dissipating front will continue to affect the Baja California offshore waters through Mon. Aside from the winds, rough to very rough seas will also affect the region, with peak seas reaching 15 ft N of Punta Eugenia tonight before starting to gradually subside on 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 Thu morning and continue through late 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 1033 mb NW of the area continues to extend a ridge across the subtropical E Pacific waters, reaching as far south as 07N and as far east as the Baja California offshore waters. A weakening cold front is ahead of the ridge, which is moving across the Baja Sur Peninsula. Fresh to strong NW winds extends farther west from the Baja California offshores to near 128W while the ridge continues to support another area of fresh to strong trades from 07N to 20N W of 122W. Seas over the subtropical waters are in the 8 to 13 ft, highest in the regions of strongest winds. Over the second area of strong winds, far west in the tropical waters, seas are 8-12 ft. 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 dissipate tonight. Fresh to strong winds behind the cold front and north of 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