Tropical Weather Discussion

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Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sun Apr 19 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 0300 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure ridging will build southward along eastern Mexico in the wake of a late- season cold front that will move across the northern Gulf of America tonight through Mon. The pressure gradient between the ridge and relatively lower pressure south of Mexico should tighten enough to support a brief occurrence of gale-force northerly winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec Sun night into Mon morning. The gradient will then relax enough as high pressure north of the area shifts eastward during Mon enabling the gale winds to diminish to strong speeds. Seas with this upcoming gale event are expected to peak to around 11 ft. Lingering rough seas later during Mon will subside late Mon. Marine interests transiting through, or near the Gulf of Tehuantepec should take the necessary action to avoid hazardous marine conditions over the affected waters. 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 northwest Colombia southwestward to 07N78W to 09N90W to 05N107W, where it transitions to the ITCZ and continues to 05N120W to beyond 05N140W. A second ITCZ extends from 02S94W to beyond 03S140W. Scattered moderate convection is depicted from 07S to 07N between 84W and 105W. Similar convection is depicted from 02.5N to 08.5N between 118W and 140W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section above for information on an upcoming gap wind gale-event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. A high pressure NW of the area extends a ridge to about 15N and west of 113W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures over Mexico is supporting moderate to locally fresh northwest winds west of the Baja California Peninsula. Elsewhere over the Pacific, winds are moderate or weaker in speeds. Seas are 4 to 6 ft in northwest swell over the waters northwest of Cabo Corrientes and 4 to 5 ft in south swell over the waters southeast of Cabo Corrientes. Mostly moderate northwest winds are in the Gulf of California. Seas are 3 to 4 ft in the southern sections of the Gulf and 2 to 3 ft elsewhere. For the forecast, aside from the upcoming Tehuantepec gale event, rather quiet conditions will remain over the forecast waters through the rest of the weekend. A set of northwest swell will move through the waters west of Baja California Norte late Tue before it subsides Wed and Wed night while it propagates through the rest of the Baja California offshore waters. Seas are expected to peak to around 9 ft with this swell. Fresh to locally strong northwest winds are forecast over the Pacific waters of Baja California beginning Wed night and Thursday night. Otherwise, high pressure will dominate the general weather pattern well into the upcoming week providing for moderate to fresh winds northerly winds northwest of Cabo Corrientes, and mostly light to gentle winds southeast of Cabo Corrientes. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Light to gentle variable winds prevail across the region along with seas 4 to 6 ft. Scattered moderate convection is present from 04N to 07N between 84.5W and 87W. Scattered moderate convection is also depicted in the vicinity of the Galapagos Islands. For the forecast, winds may pulse to fresh speeds in the Gulf of Papagayo region late Mon night into Tue morning. Otherwise, rather tranquil conditions are expected to hold over the Central American and the equatorial waters for the next few days. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure is NW of the area with a ridge extending to 15N and west of 113W. A late-season cold front is just northwest of the discussion area. A weak pressure gradient between the ridge and relatively lower pressure to its south associated to the ITCZ is sustaining an area of moderate to locally fresh northeast trades over the western part of the domain from 14N to 20N west of about 122W. Seas within this area of trades are 5 to 7 ft in mixed swell. No additional deep convection is occurring away from the surface trough/ITCZ. For the forecast, little overall change is expected in the present synoptic pattern into early next week, with respect to winds and seas. The aforementioned cold front will move into the northwest part of the area late tonight, then move east-southeastward and weaken as moves across the north-central and northeast forecast waters from late Mon through Tue. The main impacts from this front will be from a set of large northwest to north swell that will trail the front as seas are expected to build to a maximum of 12 or 13 ft on Mon night over the far northwest waters. Seas of 8 ft and greater will reach to a line from near 30N121W to 20N140W by late Tue.