Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Wed Apr 22 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 2000 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough axis extends from near 10N75W to 03N81W to 07.5N93W to 06.5N109W. The ITCZ stretches from 07N110W to 08N121W to beyond 03N140W. Scattered moderate convection is observed from 02N to 07N E of 80.5W and from 05N to 08N between 133W and 140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 03.4S to 03.5N between 86W and 105W, and from 00N to 10N between 89W and 129W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... A weak cold front has dissipated across the Tiburon Basin of the Gulf of California and central Baja California southeast of Punta Eugenia this afternoon. A broad and weak surface ridge prevails across the remainder Baja offshores to the southeast of the front to Cabo Corrientes. Recent satellite scatterometer data showed moderate to fresh NW winds across the Baja waters behind the front, and in the far northern Gulf of California. Seas across these offshore waters are 7 to 9 ft in NW swell. Ahead of the front, moderate NW to N winds prevail, with seas in the 5 to 7 ft range in mixed S and new NW swell. Across the Gulf of Tehuantepec, N gap winds have begun to turn off near the coast, but with moderate N winds still extending offshore, where seas remain 5 to 6 ft. Elsewhere, winds are light to gentle and seas 5-6 ft in S swell. Scattered moderate convection is occurring well offshore of western Oaxaca and Guerrero. For the forecast, new high pressure well NW of the area will build across the Baja waters through Thu, and act to increase winds modestly through early Fri before weakening Fri night through Sat. NW swell will continue to move across the Baja California waters and spread southeastward to the Revillagigedo Islands through Thu. Seas are expected to peak at 8-9 ft across the Baja waters this evening through Thu morning with this swell. Elsewhere, mostly light to gentle west to northwest winds are expected through the weekend. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Modest high pressure north of the western Caribbean Sea is forcing moderate to fresh NE to E gap winds and moderate seas to 7 ft across the Papagayo region, extending downstream to 90W. A narrow middle to upper-level trough extending from the western Caribbean W-SW across central America is supporting scattered moderate to strong convection across the waters N of 10N to the coasts of far western El Salvador and Guatemala, and shifting westward with the low level winds from Papagayo. Elsewhere, light to gentle variable winds prevail. Moderate seas in SW swell are slowly subsiding across the area waters this morning. For the forecast, gap winds will remain moderate across the Papagayo region through Thu morning, then become light variable through the weekend as southerly winds develop across the NW Caribbean. Otherwise, rather tranquil conditions are expected to continue over the Central American and the equatorial waters through the end of the week. The next significant SW swell is forecast to approach the Galapagos waters Sat night. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A weak cold front has dissipated this afternoon across central Baja California to near 22N130W. Moderate N winds were shown directly behind the front and E of 120W recently in satellite scatterometer data. Large NW swell follows the front, supporting seas of 8-10 ft per recent altimeter data. High pressure well NW of the front extends weakly into the area and is producing light to gentle anticyclonic winds behind the front N of 20N. S of 20N, the developing ridge is supporting moderate to locally fresh easterly trade winds to the ITCZ between 120W and 140W. Moderate seas 5 to 7 ft in S swell, prevail across these waters. Elsewhere, moderate or lighter winds and moderate seas are prevalent. For the forecast, modest high pressure N of the area will build weakly across the region over the next few days to maintain moderate to fresh trade winds S of 20N to the ITCZ and W of 120W. NW swell will spread southeastward over the next few days, reaching the trade wind zone by this evening, and leading to rough seas around 8 ft there tonight through Thu night. Little overall changes are expected with winds and seas elsewhere through Sun.