Tropical Weather Discussion
Status
Issued Active alertStart Time
Fri 07/24/2026 06:05 AM EDTEnd Time
Fri 07/24/2026 12:05 PM EDTImpacts
Informational
Full Alert Message
Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Fri Jul 24 2026 Corrected to include Fausto forecast in the Remainder of the Area section 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 1015 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Hurricane Fausto is centered near 18.5N 129.9W, or about 1150 nm west of the southern tip of Baja California at 24/0900 UTC, moving west at 13 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 973 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 85 kt with gusts to 105 kt. Peak seas are near 32 ft. Satellite imagery shows numerous moderate to strong convection within 60 nm of the center. Fausto is forecast to maintain its present motion over the next few days. Little change in intensity is forecast through tonight, followed by steady weakening through the weekend. Swells generated by Fausto are affecting the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula and the coast of southern California. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. Please read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National Hurricane Center at website - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml and the latest Fausto NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. Storm Warning: Low pressure, Invest Ep98 near new 1006 mb, is gradually becoming better organized. Winds associated with this low pressure are expected to reach gale-force later today and storm-force of 45 to 55 kt afterward. Presently, seas are 8 to 10 ft with the low under winds of 20 to 30 kt. Seas are expected to build rather quickly through at night as the winds reach storm-force. Seas are expected to reach at peak of around 18 ft by late Sat. Satellite imagery shows numerous moderate to strong convection from 07N to 10N between 99W and 102W. Numerous moderate to isolated strong convection is from 04N to 09N between 102W-106W. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression or storm is likely to form in the next day or so, while the system moves generally west-northwestward and remains well offshore of Mexico. The low pressure has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression of storm during the next couple of days. Please, refer to the latest NHC Tropical Weather Outlook at www.hurricanes.gov and please read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National Hurricane Center at website- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml and the latest Fausto NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave that earlier was along 97W is no longer identifiable as the Special Features low is becoming better organized. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from low pressure over northwest Colombia to 08N78W to new to low pressure, Invest Ep98, near 09N99W to 06N110W and to 09N122W. It resumes south of Fausto near 12N129W to 11N140W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is from 06N to 09N between 119W-123W. Scattered moderate convection is within 180 nm south of the trough between 82W-86W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please refer to the Special Features section for details on a Storm Warning. In the wake of Fausto a ridge is building across the offshore waters of Baja California and to the Revillagigedo Islands. This pattern supports fresh to strong NW winds north of Punta Eugenia, and mainly gentle to moderate northwest to north winds between Punta Eugenia and Cabo San Lucas. Seas generating by Fausto are still spreading across the area, and mixing with the building northerly wind waves to produce seas 6 to 8 ft across the Baja waters, highest N of Punta Eugenia. Gentle to moderate NW to W winds and moderate seas prevail across the remainder of the Mexican offshore waters. For the forecast, gale and storm force winds may possibly impact the southern portions of some of the zones through the next few days along with seas building in excess of 12 ft. This low pressure system is showing signs of becoming better organized. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression or storm is likely to form in the next day or so, while the system moves generally west-northwestward and remains well offshore of Mexico. Otherwise, the pressure gradient between high pressure building in the wake of Fausto and a trough over the Gulf of California is producing fresh to strong north winds north of Punta Eugenia. These winds will diminish this afternoon. Fresh to strong northerly winds are forecast to in the Gulf of Tehuantepec from early Sat through Sun afternoon. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong north to northeast winds continue across the Papagayo region and extending downwind to near 91W, and northward to northwestern Nicaragua. Seas are 5 to 8 ft with these winds based on altimeter data. This is occurring behind a tropical wave with axis along 96W. The monsoon trough remains active across the offshore waters. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker with seas 4 to 5 ft in S to SW swell. For the forecast, fresh to strong northeast to east winds will pulse at night and into the morning hours across the Papagayo region well into next week. Moderate or weaker winds along with moderate seas in SW swell will continue elsewhere. Seas associated with a developing tropical system near new may impact the offshore waters of Guatemala through Fri, building seas to around 9 ft. Cross-equatorial southerly swell will begin to reach the Galapagos Islands by early this evening and build through the weekend and into Mon before decaying Tue. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please refer to the Special Features section for details on Hurricane Fausto, centered about 1150 nm west of the southern tip of Baja California. Hurricane Fausto dominates conditions over the High Seas forecast waters roughly from 12N to 27N between 121W and 135W. Fresh to strong winds outside of the immediate circulation of Fausto extend northward to 24N, with seas to 8 ft reaching as far N of Fausto as 27N. A couple of altimeter passes also indicate that the 12 ft seas are reaching as far N as 23N. Elsewhere, a ridge dominates the waters between Baja California and Fausto, and also north of 15N west of about 130W. Moderate or weaker winds with moderate seas prevail. Southwest swell will begin to build seas over the equatorial waters west of 120W by early this evening. For the forecast, Fausto will move to near 18.8N 131.9W this afternoon, to near 19.1N 134.5W late tonight, to near 19.5N 136.8W Sat afternoon, to near 19.8N 139.0W late Sat night, then weaken to a tropical storm west of the area near 20.1N 141.5W Sun afternoon. Please refer to the Special feature section for details on the next tropical cyclone forecast to develop well offshore of Mexico in the near future. The cross-equatorial swell will gradually build seas to 8 to 9 ft over the next few days.