000
AXPZ20 KNHC 211551
TWDEP

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1605 UTC Tue May 21 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
1530 UTC.

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

The monsoon trough extends off the coast of Costa Rica near
10N86W to a 1006 mb low pressure near 11N107W to 08N120W. The
ITCZ extends from 08N120W to beyond 06N140W. Scattered moderate
to isolated strong convection is noted from 04N to 13N between
78W and 110W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 07N to
14N between 111W and 116W.  

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

Strong high pressure continues to stretch across the NE Pacific 
southeastward to near 20N116W. The ridge is supporting moderate 
to fresh NW to N winds over the waters W of Baja California with
locally strong winds north of Punta Eugenia. Light to gentle
winds prevail between Cabo San Lucas and the Revillagigedo 
Islands. Seas are 6 to 8 ft in NW swell north of Cabo San Lazaro,
and 6 to 8 ft in a mix of NW and S swell south of Cabo San 
Lazaro. Elsewhere, including the Gulf of California, light to 
gentle winds prevail, with 3 to 5 ft seas at the entrance of the
Gulf and 2 ft or less elsewhere. Seas of 6 to 7 ft in SW swell 
dominate the remainder of the Mexican offshore waters. 

For the forecast, the surface ridge will continue to dominate 
the offshore forecast waters of Baja California through the 
week. Moderate to fresh NW to N winds W of the Baja California 
peninsula will continue through Sat night. NW swell moving 
across the Baja California offshore waters will persist through 
Thu. Seas of 8 to 10 ft N of Punta Eugenia will continue through
Wed, then subsiding below 8 ft on Fri. Winds in the Gulf of
California could increase to moderate to locally fresh Wed
through Sat night. 

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

Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection continues to 
impact the offshore waters from Costa Rica to Colombia, N of 04N
and E of 89W. These storms are bringing frequent lightning 
strikes and likely gusty winds and locally rough seas. Exercise 
caution in this area. 

South of monsoon trough around 08N, moderate to fresh winds are 
noted, including the South American offshore waters. North of 
07N, light to gentle winds prevail elsewhere. Seas are 6 to 8 ft
across the Ecuador and Galapagos Islands offshore waters due to 
long period SW swell. Otherwise, seas range 5 to 7 ft across the 
rest of the offshore waters within long period SW swell. 

For the forecast, moderate to strong thunderstorms will keep 
impacting waters from Costa Rica to Colombia through Thu. For 
waters south of 07N, winds will be moderate to locally fresh 
through Fri. North of 07N, light to gentle winds will prevail. 
Long period SW swell bringing 8 ft seas in the Ecuador and
Galapagos Islands offshore waters will subside later this
morning. Seas of 5 to 7 ft in SW swell will persist across the
Central and South American offshore waters through the rest of 
the week. By the weekend, winds across the rest of the area will 
be light to gentle with seas 4 to 6 ft. 

...REMAINDER OF THE AREA...

High pressure of 1035 mb, located N of the forecast area near 
40N142W, extends a ridge across the waters N of 15N and W of 
115W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressure 
along the ITCZ is forcing moderate to fresh NE to E trades N of 
06N and W of 115W. Strong winds are pulsing along 12N and W of 
137W. Seas are 7 to 9 ft in this area.  Northerly swell is 
merging with the swell from the trade wind zone, with seas 8 to 
10 ft N of 26N. Elsewhere south of 06N, gentle to moderate winds
and seas of 6 to 8 ft in merging N and SW swell prevail W of 
110W. South of the ITCZ, gentle to moderate winds prevail. Seas 
are 6 to 8 ft in mixed SW and SE swell. A 1006 mb low pressure
near 11N107W is producing fresh to locally strong winds with seas
8 to 9 ft. 

For the forecast, high pressure will remain in control of the
weather pattern across the area N of 15N and W of 115W through 
the week. This will maintain mostly moderate to fresh trade winds
and moderate to rough seas along the southern periphery of the 
ridge, and mainly W of 130W. Strong winds will continue through 
today mainly W of 138W. Cross equatorial SW swell will continue 
to combine with northerly swell to dominate area waters through 
Wed before subsiding. Seas of 8 to 9 ft across the trade wind 
zone will begin to slowly subside by Wed, and subside below 8 ft 
by Fri.

$$
AReinhart