Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1430 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. Winds may briefly lower to just below gale- force this afternoon. 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 05N91W. The ITCZ extends from 05N91W to 00N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 05N to 08N between 119W and 125W. ...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. 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 will support light to gentle winds, increasing to moderate to fresh near Baja California this weekend as the pressure gradient tightens slightly. Moderate seas will prevail over the open waters, with slight seas in the Gulf of California. Seas will build in N swells off Baja California Norte late in the weekend into early next week. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate to fresh winds are in the Papagayo region, with light to gentle winds elsewhere. Moderate seas in the 3-5 ft range prevail across the discussion waters, except for localized seas to 7 ft in the Gulf of Papagayo and well offshore Guatemala. For the forecast, large NW swell generated by the gale-force gap winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will impact the offshore waters of Guatemala into tonight. Fresh to strong winds will pulse nightly in the Gulf of Papagayo. Moderate winds will pulse nightly in the Gulf of Panama, with pulses to fresh possible next week. Gentle breezes and moderate seas will prevail elsewhere. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A weak pressure gradient across the area is supporting mostly gentle to moderate winds across the open waters. Moderate wave heights in the 3-6 ft range prevail. For the forecast, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas will generally prevail across the region through the weekend. N swell will build S of 30N from off Baja California Norte by the end of the weekend, leading to rough seas.