Tropical Weather Discussion
Status
Issued Active alertStart Time
Sun 03/29/2026 12:05 PM EDTEnd Time
Sun 03/29/2026 06:05 PM EDTImpacts
Informational
Full Alert Message
Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Sun Mar 29 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The local pressure gradient induced by broad high pressure across the Gulf of America will maintain fresh to near gale force N to NE gap winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec through Mon, with gale-force winds occurring presently and expected to continue through late this morning, and then return briefly tonight. Very recent satellite altimeter data measured 13-14 ft seas along 95W, suggesting that peak seas farther to the W are likely 15-16 ft. Seas will remain rough to very rough during this period of gale- force winds. 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 10N74.5W to 09N80W to 03N95W. The ITCZ extends from 03N96W to 02.5N103W to 06N132W to beyond 06N140W. A southern hemispheric ITCZ is analyzed from 03.4S90W to 03S102W to beyond 03S120W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 03N to 06.5N between 83W and 92W, and from 04.5N to 06.5N between 128W and 140W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see SPECIAL FEATURES above for more information on the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale-force gap wind event. Gale-force N to NE winds currently extend from the Tehuantepec coast offshore to near 14N95.5W, where seas are estimated at 8 to 16 ft. Fresh to strong NE winds then extend farther offshore to 11N99W. Other than the gale-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, weak high pressure remains NW of the area, while broad low pressure persists from Baja Norte southward across the offshore waters of Baja Sur. This weak pressure pattern is producing moderate to locally fresh NW winds offshore of Baja California Norte, as indicated by overnight ASCAT scatterometer data. Moderate SW to S winds are wrapping around the southern end of the Baja peninsula near Cabo San Lucas, and into the entrance of the Gulf of California. Light to gentle winds dominate the remainder of the waters. Moderate seas to 6 ft in northerly swell prevail offshore Baja California and W of 110W, while slight seas elsewhere away from and downwind of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. For the forecast, aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale-force gap wind event, broad low pressure is expected to persist across Baja California and the adjacent offshore waters through the early part of the week. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail across the majority of the waters through Wed. The pressure gradient will tighten thereafter, as the broad low pressure shifts into western Mexico, with winds offshore Baja California increasing to moderate to fresh. Slight to moderate seas will prevail through Thu. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong NE to E winds prevail over the Papagayo region per overnight ASCAT scatterometer data, and likely extend southwestward to near 91W, where seas are 5-8 ft. In the Gulf of Panama, moderate to locally fresh N-NE winds prevail, and extend downwind to 05N, where seas are 4 to 6 ft in S swell. Winds are light to gentle elsewhere. Moderate seas of 4 to 6 ft prevail across the remaining waters, except 6 to 7 ft across the waters south through southeast of the Galapagos Islands in fresh S swell. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE to E winds will pulse in the Gulf of Papagayo downwind to near 92W through early Wed, then become moderate to fresh thereafter. In the Gulf of Panama, N to NE winds will continue to pulse through early Tue, building seas locally to rough at times. Rough to very rough seas in NW swell will spread offshore Guatemala later this morning through tonight due to a Gulf of Tehuantepec gale event. Slight to moderate seas will prevail otherwise through Tue night. Large SW swell will spread to the waters from offshore Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands Wed afternoon and build seas to 8-9 ft Thu and Thu night. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Complex low pressure remains centered NW of the local area, and extends a leading cold front across the far NW waters along 138W. Gentle to moderate winds dominate the open waters under a relatively weak pressure gradient, except locally fresh from 06N to 15N and W of 126W per overnight ASCAT scatterometer data. Fresh to strong NE winds extending from a gale-force Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event extend into the waters to near 11N101W where seas are locally to 8 ft. Moderate seas of 4 to 7 ft in mixed swell prevail across the remainder of the waters. For the forecast, gentle to moderate winds will dominate the open waters through the next several days with weak high pressure across much of the area and broad low pressure across Baja California, while a series of frontal systems move into the NW waters and weaken W of 130W. N to NE swell generated by a gale- force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will spread SW and impact the waters roughly N of 05N and E of 107W through Mon. Fresh to strong winds will pulse across these waters as well extending downwind from Tehuantepec and into the trade wind zone east of 110W. Moderate seas will continue otherwise through the early part of the week. Large southerly swell will move into the waters S of the Equator mid- week. Also, rough seas may move into the waters near 30N140W Thu in SW swell.