000 AXPZ20 KNHC 140404 TWDEP   Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Wed Feb 14 2024  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  UTC.  ...SPECIAL FEATURES...  Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A 1022 mb high pressure over the western Gulf of Mexico will sustain near-gale to gale-force gap winds at Gulf of Tehuantepec until early Wed morning. Seas under these winds will peak between 10 and 12 ft. The high will weaken and move into the southeastern United States on Wednesday. This will allow winds to subside below gale force but remain at strong to near-gale through Thu. Marine conditions should improve Friday through the weekend. Looking ahead, the next Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event is forecast to begin Sun, with gale force winds possible starting  Sun morning.  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...  The equatorial trough extends from 07N78W to 04N82W. The ITCZ  continues from 07N78W to 05N115W to beyond 06N140W. Scattered  moderate convection is noted near and up to 120 nm north of the ITCZ. No significant convection is near the equatorial trough.  ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO...  Please see Special Features section above for more on an ongoing Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force gap wind event.   Aside from the gale warning, broad surface ridging extends from  a 1020 mb high centered near 29N125W to near the Revillagigedo Islands. The pressure gradient over the area is rather weak, supporting mainly light to gentle winds. NW swell is supporting 6-7 ft seas west of the Baja California peninsula. Seas of 5-6 ft are elsewhere over the open waters off Mexico, with seas 3 ft or less over the Gulf of California.   For the forecast, an ongoing gap wind event will support gale force winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec region through early Wed  morning. Strong winds will then continue through Thu night before diminishing into the weekend. Fresh to strong northerly winds and rough seas are expected near Cabo Corrientes Wed through Thu night. NW swell will slowly subside across the offshore waters  of Baja California through Thu. Looking ahead, the next Gulf of  Tehuantepec gale-force gap wind event is possible Sun through  Mon.   ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA,  AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR  Fresh to strong winds, and seas of 4-6 ft, prevail over and  downstream the Gulf of Papagayo. Gentle to moderate winds are  noted over the Gulf of Panama as well as between Colombia and the Galapagos Islands. Light to gentle winds are elsewhere. NE swell generated from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force sap wind event is producing seas of 7-9 ft well offshore Guatemala and El Salvador. Elsewhere, seas are in the 4-5 ft range.  For the forecast, fresh to strong NE gap winds will prevail in the Papagayo region through early this weekend. NW swell generated from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale event will impact the outer waters off of Guatemala and El Salvador tonight. Elsewhere, relatively benign marine conditions will prevail for the next several days.   ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA...  High pressure prevails over the waters N of 20N, anchored by a 1020 mb high centered near 31N125W. A cold front is just NW of the area. The pressure gradient between the cold front and the area of high pressure is supporting fresh to strong winds over  the far NW waters, where seas are near 8 ft. The pressure  gradient between the area of high pressure and lower pressure in  the vicinity of the ITCZ/equatorial trough is supporting gentle  to moderate winds in the tradewind zone from 04N to 13N and W of  100W. Seas in this area are in the 6-8 ft range in a mix of NE  and NW swell. Light to gentle winds are in the vicinity of the  high center. Elsewhere, gentle winds, and seas of 5-7 ft prevail.  For the forecast, the area of high pressure will drift E-SE and  weaken through Thu, then become nearly stationary into the  weekend. A weakening cold front over the NW waters will move  slowly eastward while weakening through Wed. A low level  disturbance is forecast to develop across the tropical Pacific  near 110W by Wed. The pressure gradient between the ridge and  this disturbance is forecast to produce strong NE winds and seas building 8 to 12 ft and higher through Fri, as the feature  drifts W. The next pulse of significant NW swell will enter the  NW waters Wed, ahead of the next cold front. This cold front is  forecast to reach the NW waters by Thu evening, and weaken as it reaches near 30N130W Sat morning. Strong SW winds are expected  Thu and Thu night ahead of the front. Large NW swell in excess of 12 ft will move into the far western waters behind the front  over the weekend. Looking ahead, a deep low may move just N of  the NW waters later in the upcoming weekend, with gale force  winds possible N of 27N and W of 130W Sun and Sun night.  $$  Chan