Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Fri Mar 20 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1930 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: the pressure gradient between high pressure across eastern Mexico and the equatorial trough is supporting gale-force N-NE winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Seas are 10-12 ft across this region. The gale force winds are forecast to continue into early Sat before diminishing. 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 information. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 08N77W to 05N90W. The ITCZ extends from 05N90W to 01N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 05N to 08N between 115W and 127W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features above for information on a gale warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, a weak pressure gradient is generating light to gentle winds, except locally moderate off Cabo San Lucas. Moderate seas prevail over the open waters, with slight seas in the Gulf of California. For the forecast, aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale warning, moderate to fresh NW winds will dominate offshore Baja California, with light to gentle winds elsewhere. Moderate seas will generally prevail, with slight seas in the Gulf of California. Long period N swell will arrive Sun offshore Baja California Norte, and this may lead to rough seas there Sun night into early next week. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate gap winds are ongoing in the Gulf of Papagayo and Gulf of Panama, with light to gentle winds elsewhere. Seas are 3 to 5 ft, except for 6 to 8 ft seas will offshore Guatemala due to gale-force gap winds N of the region in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. For the forecast, large N swell generated by the gale-force gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will impact the offshore waters of Guatemala into Sat. Fresh to strong winds will pulse nightly in the Gulf of Papagayo. Moderate to locally fresh winds will pulse nightly in the Gulf of Panama. Gentle breezes and moderate seas will prevail elsewhere. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... The pressure gradient between high pressure centered N of the area and the ITCZ is leading to moderate trades from the equator to 15N, with gentle trades to the S. Dominated by the ridge, waters N of 15Z are experiencing mainly gentle anticyclonic winds. Seas through the basin are mainly 4 to 6 ft, except for some locally rough seas N and E of 10N99W, where swell from gales in the Gulf of Tehuantepec are propagating. For the forecast, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas will generally prevail across the region into the start of next week. N swell will build just S of 30N from off Baja California Norte Sun, leading to rough seas into Mon.