Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Sat Mar 28 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 2030 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 this afternoon through Sun morning, and then returning briefly Sun night. Seas will become rough to very rough during this period of gale-force winds, peaking around 15 ft by early Sun. 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 04N90W to 02.5N113W. The ITCZ continues from 06.5N119W to beyond 05.5N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 02N to 06N between 87W and 95W, south of 03S between 104W and 120W, and from 06N to 08.5N between 126W and 140W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see SPECIAL FEATURES above for more on a Gulf of Tehuantepec gale-force gap wind event. Minimal gale-force NW to N winds were depicted by late morning satellite scatterometer data across the Gulf of Tehuantepec north of 15N, with fresh to strong N to NE winds continuing farther offshore to near 11N. Seas have built to 8-12 ft in recent hours. Weak high pressure well NW of the area extends a ridge southward into the regional waters W of 115W. The resultant pressure gradient is producing moderate to locally fresh northerly winds across the waters of Baja Norte southward to offshore of Punta Eugenia. Seas are 5 to 7 ft in fading NW swell across this area. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds, and slight to moderate seas are noted between Puerto Angel and Baja Sur. For the forecast, northerly gales will continue across the Gulf of Tehuantepec tonight through mid morning Sun, then briefly increase again to minimal gales Sun night. Broad low pressure is expected to persist across Baja California and the adjacent offshore waters, while weak high pressure continues well to the NW. Winds across the Baja Norte waters to Punta Eugenia will gradually diminish through Mon. Moderate SE to S winds will pulse to locally fresh inside the Gulf of California tonight through Mon. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds will prevail through Wed night, pulsing to moderate to fresh near Cabo San Lucas and near Cabo Corrientes at times. Slight to moderate seas will prevail over the waters away from the Gulf of Tehuantepec. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong NE-E winds prevail over the Papagayo region, and extend southwestward to near 91W, where seas are 5 to near 8 ft. In the Gulf of Panama, moderate N to NE winds continue and extend south and southwestward to 04N, where seas are 4 to 5 ft. Elsewhere, light to gentle winds prevail. Slight to moderate seas of 5 ft and less in southerly swell dominate the area waters. For the forecast, across the Papagayo region, fresh NE winds will pulse to strong each evening and night through early Wed, reaching downwind to 92W, with moderate to locally rough seas. Moderate to fresh winds will also pulse in the Gulf of Panama with moderate seas through Tue night, before diminishing. Rough seas in NW swell will build well offshore western Guatemala Sun through Sun night due to the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale-force gap wind event. Gentle breezes and slight to moderate seas will prevail elsewhere through Wed. Looking ahead, large SW swell will move into the waters from offshore Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands on Wed, and reach the remaining Central American waters beginning Thu morning. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A complex gale-force low pressure system is located NW of the area, with a leading cold front now reaching near 30N140W. Moderate SE to S winds and moderate seas to 7 ft associated with the outer periphery of this system prevail across these NW waters close to 30N140W. Weak high pressure is located NE of this complex low and extends a ridge south and southeastward into the area waters between 115W and 140W. Moderate seas of 6 to 7 ft in northerly swell are found N of 20N between 114W and 137W. Gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas are found over the remainder of the discussion waters, except for locally fresh NE winds occurring from 07N to 09N near 10N between 120W and 140W. For the forecast, weak high pressure will prevail across much of the area through Tue, between broad low pressure across Baja California and a frontal system remaining W of 135W. Expect mainly moderate NE winds across the trade wind zone during this time. N to NE swell generated by a developing 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 Sun 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 into early Sun across the open waters. Large southerly swell will move into the waters S of the Equator mid-week.