Tropical Weather Discussion
Status
Issued Active alertStart Time
Wed 09/23/2026 12:05 PM EDTEnd Time
Wed 09/23/2026 06:05 PM EDTImpacts
Informational
Full Alert Message
Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Wed Sep 23 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... Major Hurricane Polo is centered near 15.4N 101.8W at 23/1500 UTC, moving northwest at 4 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 927 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 130 kt with gusts to 160 kt. Peak seas are currently around 44 ft or 13 m. Numerous strong convection is noted around the well-defined eye within 150 nm of the center. A continued NW motion is expected through Wed, with a turn to the WNW expected late this week, continuing through the weekend. On the forecast track, the core of Polo is expected to be near the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next day or two, although it is forecast to remain offshore. Polo is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in intensity are expected, but Polo is expected to remain a very powerful major hurricane during the next few days. Heavy rainfall associated with Polo will impact coastal portions of southwest Mexico through Thu. This rainfall may produce life- threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Swells generated by Polo are expected to affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf, rip current conditions, and coastal flooding. Please consult products from your local weather office. Hurricane Odalys is centered near 16.0N 127.9W at 23/1500 UTC, moving east-northeast at 7 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 989 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 65 kt with gusts to 80 kt. Peak seas are around 25 ft or 8 m. Numerous strong convection is noted within 120 nm of the center. Odalys is moving toward the ENE and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days, followed by a gradual turn toward the northeast then north later this week. Strengthening is expected during the next day or two, followed by a weakening trend late this week. 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 Polo NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details on both Polo and Odalys. Heavy Rainfall over Central America: A mid to upper-level trough currently extends over the NW Caribbean while relatively warm sea surface temperatures are present, and in addition there is a potential for a Central American Gyre to form during the next several days. All of these factors will lead to enhanced moisture funneling into Central America and the Caribbean, supporting heavy rainfall through the 26th. There is still some uncertainty regarding the exact location of heaviest rainfall, but for now heavy rainfall looks likely across extreme southeastern Mexico near Chiapas, southern and central Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, southern Belize well as across portions of Costa Rica and Panama. Heavy rainfall in these regions will raise concerns for life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. Please refer to local weather services as well as the International Desk at the Weather Prediction Center for more information. ...TROPICAL WAVES... The axis of a tropical wave is near 92W north of 05N, drifting slowly westward. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 06N to 16N between 87W and 96W. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 08N83W to 13N95W, then resumes past the circulations of Polo and Odalys from 13N131W to 13N140W. Aside from the convection associated with Polo and Odalys and the tropical wave all discussed above, scattered moderate isolated strong convection is found within 180 nm either side of the monsoon trough W of 129W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section above for details on major Hurricane Polo and on recently upgraded Hurricane Odalys well W of the area. Aside from conditions associated with Polo, moderate to weaker winds dominate. Seas are 1 to 3 ft in the Gulf of California, and 4 to 7 ft over the remainder of the waters away from Polo. Convection has developed in the southern Gulf of California in association with a surface trough. For the forecast, major Hurricane Polo will move to 15.4N 102.0W this afternoon, 16.2N 103.4W Thu morning, 16.5N 105.0W Thu afternoon, 16.7N 107.0W Fri morning, 16.9N 108.8W Fri afternoon, and 17.3N 110.6W Sat morning. Polo will change little in intensity as it moves to 19.4N 112.7W early Sun. Looking ahead, Odalys is forecast to slightly strengthen and gradually approach the waters just beyond the Baja California offshore waters by the end of the upcoming weekend. Outer swells associated with Odalys will propagate into the Baja California waters and mix with those from Polo to create very confused and hazardous seas this weekend. Fresh to strong northerly gap winds may develop in the Gulf of Tehuantepec early Thu, then pulse into the upcoming weekend. Looking ahead, an area of low pressure is expected to form in a couple of days to the south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Afterwards, environmental conditions should be favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this week or this weekend as the system moves slowly west- northwestward to northwestward, parallel to the coast of southern and southwestern Mexico. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle winds dominate the offshore waters. Moderate seas prevail across the region, except for slight seas nearshore Colombia, eastern Panama and in the lee of the Galapagos Islands. Some convection is present near the coast of Colombia, and beyond 60 nm offshore to the N of 10N due to a passing tropical wave described above. For the forecast, moderate or weaker winds are expected to prevail across the offshore waters for the next several days, except becoming moderate to fresh offshore El Salvador and Guatemala Thu into early Sat as an area of low pressure is expected to form south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec in a couple of days. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Please see the Special Features section above for details on Major Hurricane Polo and on Hurricane Odalys. Outside of Odalys and Polo, moderate to locally fresh trades are over the waters from 14N to 20N to the W of 129W. Seas are 7 to 9 ft in mixed northeast and southeast swell within this area, highest to the W of Odalys to 140W. Moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas are elsewhere. For the forecast, major Hurricane Polo will move to 15.4N 102.0W this afternoon, 16.2N 103.4W Thu morning, 16.5N 105.0W Thu afternoon, 16.7N 107.0W Fri morning, 16.9N 108.8W Fri afternoon, and 17.3N 110.6W Sat morning. Polo will change little in intensity as it moves to 19.4N 112.7W early Sun. Meanwhile, Hurricane Odalys will move to 16.1N 127.3W this afternoon, 16.5N 126.0W Thu morning, 17.2N 124.7W Thu afternoon, 18.0N 123.5W Fri morning, 18.7N 122.9W Fri afternoon, and weaken to a tropical storm near 19.5N 122.7W Sat morning. Odalys will change little in intensity as it moves to 21.4N 122.6W early Sun. Very large seas generated by both systems will merge by the end of the week into the upcoming weekend as the systems get closer together resulting in very dangerous and hazardous conditions. Otherwise, high pressure over the remainder of the area will pretty much maintain moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas through the rest of the week. Looking ahead, an area of low pressure is expected to form in a couple of days to the south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Afterwards, environmental conditions should be favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this week or this weekend as the system moves slowly west- northwestward to northwestward, parallel to the coast of southern and southwestern Mexico.