Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Wed Mar 18 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0130 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: the pressure gradient between high pressure building across eastern Mexico and the equatorial trough is supporting gale force gap winds in the Tehuantepec region, with seas peaking near 14 ft. Gale force winds will continue through tonight before diminishing. Near- gale force gap winds and rough seas will then pulse across the Tehuantepec region into Fri. 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 02N102W to beyond 01N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 03N to 07N between 88W and 96W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features above for more 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. 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, a weak pressure gradient is generating light to gentle winds. Moderate seas prevail over the open waters, with slight seas in the Gulf of California. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle winds and moderate seas in the 4-6 ft range prevail across the discussion waters. For the forecast, large NE swell generated by the gale force gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will impact the offshore waters of Guatemala through Wed. Gentle breezes and moderate seas will prevail elsewhere through late week, except for the Papagayo region, where fresh winds will pulse nightly starting Thu. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A weak pressure gradient across the area is supporting mostly gentle to moderate winds across the region. Moderate wave heights in the 4-6 ft range prevail. For the forecast, large N to NE swell generated from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force gap winds will briefly bring rough seas mainly from 08N to 12N and east of 100W tonight and Wednesday. Otherwise, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas will prevail across the region into the weekend.