000
AXPZ20 KNHC 200324
TWDEP

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
0405 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through
0300 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 will tighten enough to support a brief 
occurrence of gale-force northerly winds in the Gulf of 
Tehuantepec tonight into Mon morning. The gradient will then 
relax enough as high pressure north of the area shifts eastward 
during Mon allowing for the gale winds to diminish to strong 
speeds. Seas with this upcoming gale event are expected to peak 
to around 11 or 12 ft. Lingering rough seas will subside Tue. 
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 low pressure in northwest Colombia
southwestward to 08N83W to 1010 mb low pressure near 04N95W and 
to 04N111W, where it transitions to the ITCZ to 05N126W to 
and to beyond 05N140W. Scattered moderate convection is depicted
from 00N to 07.5N between 87W and 98W. Numerous moderate
convection is depicted from 01.5S to 08N between 113W 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 moderate northwest winds
west of the Baja California Peninsula. Elsewhere over the 
Pacific, winds are moderate 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 Panama along with seas around 3 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 30N130W to 25N140W. It is preceded by
gentle to moderate southwest winds north 27N and east to near 
127W, and followed by mostly moderate northwest to north winds. 
Seas are 4 to 6 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 111W and
south to near 16.5N. 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 
123W. 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 21N140W by late Tue, then
begin to subside through Wed.

$$
KRV