Tropical Weather Discussion
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Issued by NWS
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080 AXPZ20 KNHC 110844 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Mon May 11 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0730 UTC. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough axis extends from 11N74.5W to 06N79W to 09N85W to 06N92W to 09.5N105W to 05.5N121W to 05N140W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 01.5N to 08.5N E of 96W, and from 03N to 10N between 120W and 140W. Scattered moderate convection is seen from 03S to 17.5N between 98W and 109W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Gentle to moderate NW to N winds continue across the waters of Baja California as a broad ridge persists west of the area. Seas with these winds are mostly 5 to 6 ft in NW swell, except 7 ft across the waters NW of Isla Guadalupe. Light to gentle northerly winds prevail from Baja Sur and Cabo San Lucas southward beyond the Revillagigedo Islands and Cabo Corrientes to near 17N, where seas are 5 to 6 ft primarily in SW swell. Winds inside the Gulf of California have shifted W to SW across much of the basin at 10 kt or less, with a few areas of moderate westerly gap winds. Seas 1 to 2 ft, except 3 to 5 ft in SW swell in the southern portions. Gentle to locally moderate winds prevail elsewhere to the east and southeast to Tehuantepec. Seas are 5 to 6 ft primarily in SW swell. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms continue over the offshore waters between 101W and a trough extending from 17N104W to 11N107W, but are within 60 nm of the coast of from Colima to western Guerrero. Recent satellite altimeter data showed locally rough seas to 8 ft across the far outer waters, likely due to strong gusty winds from this persistent area of convection. For the forecast, a broad ridge west of the area has begun to weaken across the local area tonight, and will weaken slightly Mon through Wed morning as weak low pressure moves into Southern California. Moderate NW swell will gradually subside across the Baja waters through Wed. A new area of high pressure will build southeastward across the region Wed night through Fri night, leading to mostly fresh NW to N winds and building seas across the Baja waters. Fresh to strong gap winds will return to Tehuantepec Mon night, then become strong to near gale-force winds Tue through Thu night as the pressure gradient tightens over southeastern Mexico in the wake of cold front. ....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Satellite scatterometer data around midnight indicated mostly light to gentle winds over the offshore waters of Central America and southward to Ecuador, with fresh NE to E gap winds across the Papagayo region extending to near 88W. Winds have likely increased fresh to strong downwind of Papagayo in recent hours. Gentle to moderate northerly winds prevail across and downwind of the Gulf of Panama to 06N. Combined seas over these waters are generally 5 to 7 ft in SW swell, except for higher seas to 8 ft downstream of Papagayo. SW swell dominating area seas in recent days has begun to subside, with recent satellite altimeter data showing seas 6 to 7 ft south of the equator and east of about 100W to near the coast of Peru. Scattered moderate to strong convection is occurring across the offshore waters from 01.5N to 08.5N and E of 90W, and extends to near the coast of SE Costa Rica, eastern Panama and southern Colombia. For the forecast, fresh easterly gap winds will pulse to fresh to strong speeds at night across the Papagayo region through early Thu, then at fresh speeds Fri. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas in southerly swell are expected through the week. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to remain active across the waters E of 85W through Tue night. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... High pressure of 1023 mb is centered north of the area near 32N131W and extends a broad but weakening ridge south and southeastward to near 110W. The pressure gradient between the high pressure and relatively lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is generally maintaining moderate to fresh trades from 07N to 24N west of 126W, and from 10N to 20N between 115W and 126W. Seas of 6 to 8 ft in mixed NW and E swell are over this area south of 21N and west of about 120W. Gentle to moderate winds with seas of about 5 to 6 ft are elsewhere north of about 11N per recent satellite altimeter data, and a couple of SoFar Ocean Spotter buoy reports from the northwest portion of the area. Convection over this area is associated with the monsoon trough and ITCZ as described above under the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section. For the forecast, the ridge will begin to weaken as the high center drifts northward today through Tue, ahead of an approaching weak cold front. The associated weakened pressure gradient will support moderate trades, fresh at times, north of the ITCZ to about 22N and west of 120W Mon through Tue, with seas of 6 to 8 ft across this area. Mainly gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas will prevail elsewhere during the upcoming week. New high pressure will begin to build across the region from the NW early Wed through Fri to produce fresh trade winds S of 20N and W of 125W, with seas building 8 to 9 ft. Rough seas to 8 ft in southerly swell will continue across the far southwestern waters S of 02N to 120W, and will gradually spread eastward in coverage to near 100W Mon and Mon night before subsiding Tue into Wed. $$ Stripling