Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Tue Mar 17 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 will support gale force gap winds across the Tehuantepec region starting tonight and persisting into mid week. Near-gale force gap winds and rough seas may pulse again across the Tehuantepec region Thu and 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 08N78W to 04N90W. The ITCZ extends from 04N90W to 00N108W to beyond 01N140W. Scattered moderate convection is noted S of 01N between 98W and 110W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features above for more on an upcoming gale warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. A weak pressure gradient is generating light to gentle winds across much of the forecast area, except moderate winds off Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Corrientes. 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 pattern over the region will maintain gentle to moderate breezes and and moderate seas over the open waters off Mexico, with slight to moderate seas in the Gulf of California. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Moderate gap winds are over the Gulf of Papagayo and in the Gulf of Panama. Light to gentle winds are noted elsewhere. SW swell of 6-7 ft covers most of the regional waters except for in the lee of the Galapagos Islands. For the forecast, large NE swell generated by the upcoming gale force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec may impact the offshore waters of Guatemala Tue through late Wed. Gentle breezes and moderate seas will prevail elsewhere through late in the week. ...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 upcoming Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force gap wind event will briefly bring rough seas mainly from 08N to 12N and east of 100W. Otherwise, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas will prevail across the region through the latter part of the week.