Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Mon Mar 30 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 0230 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: The pressure gradient induced by broad high pressure across the Gulf of America will maintain fresh to near gale force N to NE gap winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec through Mon morning, with gale-force winds expected tonight. Seas will remain rough to very rough through early Mon morning before winds and seas begin to steadily diminish. 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 details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A surface trough extends from 09N77W to 05N95W. The ITCZ extends from 05N95W to beyond 03N140W. Scattered showers are along the trough. Scattered moderate convection is along the ITCZ and W of 128W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see SPECIAL FEATURES above for more information on the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale-force gap wind event. Strong to near gale-force N to NE winds currently extend from the Tehuantepec coast offshore to near 12.5N96.5W, then veer NE to E and continue on to near 11.5N102W. Peak seas downwind of Tehuantepec are estimated at 12 to 15 ft. Beyond this gale-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, weak high pressure remains NW of the area, while broad low pressure persists from Baja Norte southward across the offshore waters of Baja Sur. This weak pressure pattern is producing gentle to moderate NW to N winds offshore of Baja California Norte, as indicated by recent ASCAT scatterometer data. Gentle to moderate SW to S winds prevail across waters of Baja Sur and near the coast near Punta Eugenia, and are also wrapping around the southern end of the Baja peninsula near Cabo San Lucas, and into the Gulf of California. Light to gentle winds dominate the remainder of the waters between Puerto Angel and the Revillagigedo Islands. Moderate seas in northerly swell prevail offshore Baja California and W of 110W, while slight seas elsewhere away from and downwind of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. For the forecast, aside from the current strong Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event, broad low pressure is expected to persist across the waters of Baja California through Sun then drift NW and dissipate through Tue. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail across the majority of the waters through Wed, with moderate to locally fresh southerly winds developing in the northern Gulf of California. The pressure gradient will tighten thereafter, as high pressure gradually builds across the area from the NW late Wed through Fri. Winds offshore of Baja California are expected to increasing to moderate to fresh by Wed night. Slight to moderate seas will prevail through Thu, with moderate cross-equatorial S swell moving into the Mexican waters Thu night. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong NE to E winds prevail over the Papagayo region per recent ASCAT scatterometer data, and extend southwestward to near 93W, where seas are 6-8 ft. In the Gulf of Panama, moderate to fresh N-NE winds prevail, and extend downwind to 03.5N, where seas are moderate in S swell. Winds are light to gentle elsewhere. Moderate seas prevail across the remaining waters. For the forecast, fresh to strong NE to E winds will pulse in the Gulf of Papagayo downwind to near 92W through early Wed, then become moderate to fresh thereafter. In the Gulf of Panama, N to NE winds will continue to pulse through early Tue, building seas to rough at times. Rough to very rough seas in NW swell will continue to spread offshore Guatemala this afternoon through tonight due to the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale event. Slight to moderate seas will prevail otherwise through Tue night. Large SW swell will spread to the waters from offshore Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands Wed and build seas to 8-9 ft Thu. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Complex low pressure system remains centered NW of the local area, and extends a weak stationary front across the far NW waters along 137W. Gentle to moderate winds prevail across the open waters, except fresh from 03N to 13N and W of 110W per recent ASCAT scatterometer data. Fresh to strong NE to winds extend from a strong Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event, beyond 100W, into the waters near 11N101W where seas are rough. Moderate seas in mixed swell prevail across the remainder of the waters. For the forecast, gentle to moderate winds will dominate the open waters through the next several days, with weak high pressure across much of the area and broad low pressure across Baja California. A series of weak frontal boundaries will move into the NW waters and weaken W of 130W throughout the week. N to NE swell generated by a gale-force gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec will spread SW and impact the waters roughly N of 05N and E of 107W through Mon evening. Fresh to strong winds will pulse across these waters as well extending downwind from Tehuantepec and into the trade wind zone east of 110W. Moderate seas will continue otherwise through the early part of the week. Large southerly swell will move into the waters S of the Equator mid-week and reach 10N by Thu.