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AXPZ20 KNHC 212132
TWDEP

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
2205 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2100 UTC.


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

The monsoon trough extends off the coast of Costa Rica near 10N86W to a 1008 mb low pressure near 11N107W to 08N125W. The ITCZ extends from 08N125W to beyond 07N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted from 03N to 14N between 78W and 112W.


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

Strong high pressure continues to stretch across the NE Pacific southeastward to near 18N114W. The ridge is supporting mostly moderate NW to N winds over the waters W of Baja California with locally fresh winds around Punta Eugenia. Light to gentle winds prevail between Cabo San Lucas and the Revillagigedo Islands. Seas are 6 to 9 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 5 to 6 ft in SW swell dominate the remainder of the Mexican offshore waters. Smoke from regional agricultural fires has spread light to medium haze across the offshore waters over southern Mexico which could reduce visibilities.

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 night through Sat night. Light to medium haze from smoke caused by agricultural fires over Mexico could reduce visibilities over the southern Mexico offshore waters through Wed.


...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 05N 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 09N, gentle to moderate winds are noted, including the South American offshore waters. North of 09N, light to gentle winds prevail elsewhere. Seas are 6 to 7 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. Smoke from regional agricultural fires has spread light to medium haze across the Central America offshore waters, as far south as Nicaragua, which could reduce visibilities.

For the forecast, moderate to strong thunderstorms will keep impacting waters from Costa Rica to Colombia through Thu. For waters south of 09N, winds will be moderate to locally fresh through Fri. North of 09N, light to gentle winds will prevail. Long period SW swell bringing 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. Light to medium haze from smoke caused by agricultural fires over Mexico could reduce visibilities over portions of the Central America offshore waters through Wed.


...REMAINDER OF THE AREA...

High pressure of 1038 mb, located N of the forecast area near 39N144W, extends a ridge across the waters N of 14N and W of 112W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressure along the ITCZ is forcing moderate to fresh NE to E trades N of 07N and W of 120W. 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. South of 06N, gentle to moderate winds and seas of 6 to 8 ft in merging N and SW swell prevail W of 110W. Seas are 6 to 8 ft in mixed SW and SE swell. A 1008 mb low pressure near 11N107W is producing fresh to strong winds with seas 8 to 9 ft. Moderate to strong convection is also noted within 150 nm of the low. Smoke from regional agricultural fires in Mexico has spread light haze across the high seas N of 09N between 92N and 108W, which could reduce visibilities.

For the forecast, high pressure will remain in control of the weather pattern across the area through the week. This will maintain mostly moderate to fresh trade winds and moderate to rough seas W of 120W. Strong winds will continue through today W of 135W. 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. Haze from the agricultural fires in Mexico could reduce visibilities in portions of the high seas N of 09N and E of 108W.

$$ AKR

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