000
AXPZ20 KNHC 200930
TWDEP
Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1005 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 0800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through
0600 UTC.
...SPECIAL FEATURES...
Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure ridging will
build southward along eastern Mexico in the wake of a late-
season cold front that is moving across the Gulf of America. The
pressure gradient between the ridge and relatively lower
pressure south of Mexico has tighten enough to support a brief
occurrence of gale-force northerly winds in the Gulf of
Tehuantepec through late this morning. The gradient will then
relax enough as high pressure north of the area shifts eastward
later today allowing for the gale winds to diminish to strong
speeds. Seas with this gale event are expected to peak to around
11 or 12 ft. Lingering rough seas will subside Tue evening.
Marine interests transiting through, or near the Gulf of
Tehuantepec should take the necessary action to avoid hazardous
marine conditions over the affected waters.
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 and 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 soon to begin 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 to locally moderate
northwest winds west of the Baja California Peninsula. 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 in mixed south and northwest swell
elsewhere. Mostly light and variable winds are in the Gulf of
California along with seas 1 to 3 ft.
For the forecast, aside from the upcoming 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
it 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 to hold over
the Central American and the equatorial waters for the next few
days.
...REMAINDER OF THE AREA...
A late-season cold front is over the northwest part of the area
along a position from near 30N128.5W to 24.5N140W. It is
preceded by gentle to moderate southwest winds north 27N and east
to near 124.5W, and followed by mostly moderate northwest to
north winds. Seas are 4 to 8 ft with these winds. High pressure
ridging is building southeastward behind the front while
relatively weak high pressure is to its southeast reaching east
to near 117W and south to near 19N. 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 domain from
13N to 17N west of about 121W. Seas within these trades are 5 to
6 ft in mixed swell.
For the forecast, little overall change is expected in the present
synoptic pattern into early part of the week, with respect to
winds and seas. The aforementioned cold front will move east-
southeastward and weaken as moves across the north-central and
northeast forecast waters from late Mon through Tue. The main
impacts from this front will be from a set of large northwest to
north swell that will trail the front as seas are expected to
build to a maximum of 12 or 13 ft on Mon night over the far
northwest waters. Seas of 8 ft and greater will reach to a line
from near 30N120W to 22N130W and to 20N140W by late Tue, then
begin to subside through Wed.
$$
KRV