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Eastern North Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion


000
AXPZ20 KNHC 190916
TWDEP

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1005 UTC Sun Apr 19 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through
0800 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 northern Gulf of 
America. The pressure gradient between the ridge and relatively 
lower pressure south of Mexico should 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 enabling the gale winds to diminish to strong speeds. 
Seas with this upcoming gale event are expected to peak to around
11 ft. Lingering rough seas later during Mon will subside late 
Mon. 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 northwest Colombia southwestward to 
08N83W to 05N120W, where it transitions to the ITCZ and 
continues to beyond 05N140W. A second ITCZ extends from 02S91W 
to 03S131W. Scattered moderate convection is depicted from 04S 
to 06N between 84W and 103W. Similar convection is depicted from
02.5N to 08.5N between 118.5W and 130W. 

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

Please see the Special Features section above for information 
on an upcoming gap wind gale-event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec.

A high pressure NW of the area extends a ridge to about 17N and 
west of 118W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower 
pressures over Mexico is supporting gentle to moderate winds 
west of the Baja California Peninsula. Elsewhere over the 
Pacific, winds are moderate or weaker in speeds. Seas are 4 to 6 
ft in northwest swell over the waters northwest of Cabo 
Corrientes and 4 to 5 ft in south swell over the waters southeast
of Cabo Corrientes. Mostly gentle northwest winds are in the 
Gulf of California. Seas are 3 to 4 ft in the southern sections 
of the Gulf and 1 to 3 ft elsewhere. 

For the forecast, aside from the upcoming Tehuantepec gale event, 
rather quiet conditions will remain over the forecast waters 
through the rest of the weekend. A set of northwest swell will 
move through the waters west of Baja California Norte Wed while 
it propagates through the rest of the Baja California offshore 
waters. Seas are expected to peak to around 9 ft on Thu with 
this swell. Fresh to locally strong northwest winds are forecast 
over the Pacific waters of Baja California beginning Wed night 
and Thursday night. Otherwise, high pressure will dominate the 
general weather pattern well into the upcoming week providing for
moderate to fresh winds northerly winds northwest of Cabo 
Corrientes, and mostly light to gentle winds southeast of Cabo 
Corrientes.

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

Moderate winds prevail over the Gulf of Panama and the Costa 
Rica offshore waters. Light to gentle variable winds prevail 
elsewhere. Seas across the region are 4 to 6 ft. Scattered 
moderate convection is present from 04N to 07N between 84.5W and 
87W. Scattered moderate convection is also depicted in the 
vicinity of the Galapagos Islands.

For the forecast, winds may pulse to fresh speeds in the Gulf of
Papagayo region late tonight and Mon night into Tue morning. 
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...

High pressure is NW of the area with a ridge extending to 17N 
and west of 118W. A late-season cold front is just north of our
waters. A weak pressure gradient between the ridge and 
relatively lower pressure to its south associated to the ITCZ is 
sustaining an area of moderate to locally fresh northeast trades 
over the western part of the domain from 14N to 20N west of about
122W. Seas within this area of trades are 5 to 7 ft in mixed 
swell. No additional deep convection is occurring away from the 
surface trough/ITCZ.

For the forecast, little overall change is expected in the present 
synoptic pattern into early next week, with respect to winds and 
seas. The aforementioned cold front will move into the northwest
part of the area today, then 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 30N121W to 20N140W by late
Tue.

$$
KRV