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AXPZ20 KNHC 291541
TWDEP

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1605 UTC Mon Apr 29 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 1500 UTC.


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

The monsoon trough extends from 08N78W to 10N90W to 08N100W. The ITCZ extends from 08N100W to 07N110W to 08N120W, and from 06N130W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is active from 05N to 10N between 96W and 102W, and within 90 nm either side of the ITCZ between 105W and 115W. Scattered moderate convection is active within 90 nm either side of the ITCZ between 120W and 125W, and west of 130W.


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

A ridge extends from 1031 mb high pressure centered near 35N140W southeastward to the Revillagigedo Islands. This pattern is supporting strong to gale force winds north of the region off southern California, and associated northwest swell is propagating southward into the waters of Baja California Norte. Recent ship observations and scatterometer satellite data shows moderate to fresh NW winds off Baja California. Concurrent altimeter satellite passes indicated combined seas of 5 to 7 ft off Baja California, although higher waves to 8 or 9 ft may linger northwest of Guadalupe Island with NW swell. Gentle to moderate winds are noted elsewhere over Mexican offshore waters, with 4 to 6 ft seas primarily in NW swell.

For the forecast, the moderate to fresh NW winds along with large NW swell will persist off Baja California Norte mainly west of Guadalupe Island through mid week. Moderate to fresh SW winds may pulse across the northern Gulf of California Tue night, following a dissipating cold front moving through the region. Elsewhere, mostly gentle to moderate winds will persist across Mexican offshore waters along with moderate combined seas primarily in NW swell in open waters. Looking ahead, winds and seas will diminish off Baja California Fri and Sat as the high pressure north of the area weakens.


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

The scattered thunderstorms that have been active off Panama and Costa Rica for the past couple of days are now centered beyond 180 nm offshore where moderate to fresh SW winds are converging toward the monsoon trough. Mostly gentle to moderate breezes persist elsewhere across all of the offshore waters zones, with 3 to 5 ft combined seas primarily in SW swell.

For the forecast, a weaker than normal pressure pattern is expected to persist across the southwest Caribbean through late week, leading to gentle to moderate winds across the area Pacific waters. Moderate seas in S to SW swell will prevail through Mon before new S swell raises seas slightly across the regional waters Mon night and Tue. Looking ahead, reinforcing S swell is expected across the region Wed night through Fri night.


...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A broad ridge extends from 1031 mb high pressure centered north of the area near 35N140W to the southeast toward the Revillagigedo Islands. This pattern is supporting a large area of fresh trade winds south of 20N and into the tropical Pacific west of 120W, as noted by recent satellite scatterometer data. These winds in turn are supporting 8 to 9 ft combined seas in the same area, as measured with recent satellite altimeter data. Gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas are noted elsewhere. The convergent trade wind flow is supporting clusters of showers and thunderstorms near the ITCZ, generally from 06N to 10N between 108W and 128W.

For the forecast, the high pressure north of the area will begin to drift NE through mid week. This pressure pattern will maintain fresh to locally strong trade winds from the ITCZ to 20N, and west of 125W through Tue. Seas there will remain in the 8 to 9 ft range. Moderate N to NE winds and seas at 6 to 8 ft are expected north of 25N through Tue, with northerly swell east of 125W to include offshore of Baja California Norte persisting to 8 to 12 ft through Wed, and gradually spreading westward to 130W. Looking ahead, the high pressure will weaken late in the week ahead of a cold front moving eastward well to the north of the region. This will allow trade winds to diminish through late Fri, although combined seas to 8 ft may linger over the tropical Pacific west of 135W.

$$ Christensen

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