Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2205 UTC Tue Feb 24 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 1930 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The area of high pressure that was N of the area and responsible for the tight pressure gradient has started to shift eastward. This has loosened the pressure gradient across the area, with minimal gale force winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec, and seas peaking near 19 ft. The area of high pressure will shift further eastward tonight, further loosening the pressure gradient. The loosening pressure gradient will cause winds to further diminish, falling below gale force by Wed morning. Marine conditions will improve through the day on Wednesday. Large seas generated from this gap wind event will spread well away from the Tehuantepec area, with seas 8 ft or greater reaching as far west as 109W and south to 02N this afternoon. Gulf of Papagayo Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between high pressure passing N of the area and the equatorial trough is supporting strong to near- gale force NE to E gap winds in the Papagayo region. The high center will be centered N of the area tonight. With the tightening pressure gradient from the location of the high center, as well as the added component of nocturnal drainage flow, winds will pulse to gale- force tonight, with strong to near- gale force winds extending downstream of the Gulf. The winds are generating very rough seas in the Gulf of Papagayo, with rough seas extending downstream of the Gulf. Gale conditions will remain through Wed morning, when the high center shifts eastward and the pressure gradient loosens. Marine interests transiting across or in the Gulf of Tehuantepec and Papagayo regions should be aware of these gale force gap wind events and take the necessary action to avoid the hazardous marine conditions that have been generated over the affected waters. Please read the latest NWS High Seas issued by the National Hurricane Center at website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml Heavy Precipitation Event: Heavy precipitation will continue for Ecuador, Peru and Colombia through the early hours of Thursday. This precipitation will be due to persisting moist onshore flow that will interact with the Andes Mountains. Local rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm) will be likely. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 09N80W to 08N85W to 00N97W. The ITCZ extends from 03S100W to 04S111W to 00N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted south of 07N between 85W and 92W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information on a GALE WARNING for the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, a surface ridge extends west of Baja California, with a surface trough over western Mexico. The pressure gradient between these features is supporting gentle to locally moderate NW winds over the Gulf of California and west of the Baja California peninsula. Light to gentle winds are elsewhere, except for moderate NW winds offshore Cabo Corrientes. Moderate seas prevail over the open waters off Mexico, with slight seas in the Gulf of California. For the forecast aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, moderate or weaker winds are forecast elsewhere through Sat night, except fresh to strong winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec starting Sat morning. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information on a GALE WARNING for the Gulf of Papagayo. Aside from the Gulf of Papagayo, fresh to strong N to NE winds prevail in the Gulf of Panama with seas in the 5 to 7 ft range. Fresh to strong N to NE winds and rough to very rough seas are also ongoing across the Guatemala and El Salvador offshore waters as a result of both Tehuantepec and Papagayo gap wind events. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker with slight to moderate seas. For the forecast, aside from the Gulf of Papagayo, fresh to locally strong NE winds, and rough seas, will prevail downwind of the Gulf of Panama and just S of the Azuero Peninsula through Wed night. The large wind field of the Tehuantepec gap wind event will produce fresh to strong northerly winds and very rough seas across the offshore waters of Guatemala and El Salvador through tonight. However, rough seas will continue to propagate across these waters through Wed. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A cold front is over the NW waters. High pressure dominates the waters N of 10N ahead of the front, anchored by a 1023 mb high centered near 32N123W. The pressure gradient between the area of high pressure and the cold front over the NW waters is supporting moderate SW winds ahead of the front. The pressure gradient between the area of high pressure and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting moderate to fresh trade winds south of 15N and W of 110W. Fresh to strong winds extending from the Gulf of Tehuantepec and Gulf of Papagayo gap wind events are covering the waters from 03N to 12N and E of 103W. Rough to very rough seas generated from these gale force gap wind events are covering the waters from 01N to 14N and E of 109W. A set of NW swell is propagating across the NW waters, with seas in the 8-11 ft range N of 17N and W of 129W. Elsewhere, seas of 5 to 8 ft prevail. For the forecast, the NW swell will impact the waters N of 10N and W of 130W through midweek. The cold front will stall across the NW waters. A surface low may develop along the frontal boundary the middle of the week, bringing another round of fresh to strong southerly winds and rough seas. Combined swell generated from the Gulf of Tehuantepec and Gulf of Papagayo gap wind events will will spread rough seas westward across the waters S of 10N and E of 125W through Thu.