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Eastern North Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion


798 
AXPZ20 KNHC 201558
TWDEP 

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1605 UTC Mon Apr 20 2026

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
1545 UTC.

...SPECIAL FEATURES...

Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure ridging has 
surged south across southeastern Mexico, and as a result the 
pressure gradient has tightened enough between it and lower 
pressure present south of Mexico to bring strong to minimal
gale-force north to northeast winds to the Gulf of Tehuantepec 
region this morning. An overnight altimeter satellite pass
indicates seas reaching to around 9 ft with these winds. The 
gradient will relax enough early this afternoon allowing for the
gale winds to diminish to strong speeds. Before that happens, seas 
are expected to peak to, or near 11 ft. Lingering rough seas will 
subside Tue evening. Marine interests transiting through, or near 
the Gulf of Tehuantepec should stay tuned to the latest forecast.

Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National 
Hurricane Center at website
https:///www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more details.

...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH...

A surface trough extends from a low pressure in northwest 
Colombia southwestward to 08N82W to a 1010 mb low pressure near 
06N95W and to 03.5N111W. The ITCZ extends from 03.5N111W to 
05N125W to beyond 04N140W. Scattered moderate convection is 
depicted from 02N to 08N between 87W and 97W. Scattered moderate 
convection is also depicted from 00N to 08N between 112W and 
135W.

...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO...

Please see the Special Features section above for information on a 
recently started gap wind gale-event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec.

Relatively weak high pressure is over the area. The pressure 
gradient between the high pressure and lower pressures over 
Mexico is generally supporting gentle northwest winds west of 
the Baja California Peninsula, with the exception of fresh
northwest winds just south of Cabo San Lucas. Elsewhere over the
Pacific, winds are gentle or weaker in speeds. Seas are 3 to 5 
ft over the offshore waters, with northwest swell west of Baja 
California and mostly in south swell elsewhere. Mostly light and
variable winds are in the Gulf of California, excerpt for
moderate south to southwest winds in the northern portion.
Seas are 1 to 3 ft in the Gulf, except for slightly higher seas
of 2 to 4 ft in the southern section.

For the forecast, aside from the ongoing Gulf of Tehuantepec 
gale event, rather quiet conditions will remain over the forecast
waters through Tue. A set of northwest swell will move through 
the waters west of Baja California Norte Tue night into Wed, but 
will be subsiding as it does. Seas are expected to peak to 
around 8 ft with this swell. Fresh to locally strong northwest 
winds are forecast over the Pacific waters of Baja California 
beginning Wed night. Northwest winds will pulse to moderate to 
fresh speeds at night offshore southwestern Mexico Tue through 
Fri. Elsewhere, mostly light to gentle west to northwest winds 
are expected through the end of the week.

....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND 
WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR...

Gentle to moderate north to northeast winds are found over the
Gulf of Papagayo and over the Gulf of Panama along with seas 2 
to 4 ft. Light to gentle variable winds prevail elsewhere along with 
seas 4 to 6 ft also due to a long-period south to southwest swell. 
Scattered showers and patches of light rain are in the vicinity of 
the Galapagos Islands. 

For the forecast, winds may pulse to fresh speeds in the Gulf of
Papagayo region late at night and into the mornings through Tue.
Otherwise, rather tranquil conditions are expected remain 
over the Central American and the equatorial waters through the 
end of the week.

...REMAINDER OF THE AREA...

A late-season cold front is over the northwest part of the area 
from near 30N127W to 24.5N140W. Gentle to moderate southwest 
winds are within 120 nm east of the front north of 26N. The 
front is followed by moderate to fresh west to northwest winds.
A set of long-period northwest to north swell trails the front north 
about 27N and west of a line from 30N132W to 27N140W. High pressure 
ridging is building southeastward behind the front while relatively 
weak high pressure is to its southeast as a 1016 mb high center is 
analyzed near 24N125W. A weak pressure gradient between the ridge 
and relatively lower pressure to its south associated to the ITCZ is 
sustaining an area of moderate northeast to east trades over the 
western part of the discussion area from 13N to 17N and west of 
about 128W. Seas over this area are 5 to 6 ft primarily in north 
swell.

For the forecast, little overall change is expected in the present 
synoptic pattern through Wed, with respect to winds and seas. The 
aforementioned cold front will move east-southeastward and weaken 
through Tue. A set of northwest to north swell trailing the front 
will raise seas to around 12 ft tonight into early Tue over the far 
northwest waters. The swell will then decay over the central and 
western waters starting Wed. 

$$
Aguirre