Eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion
751 AXPZ20 KNHC 160319 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0405 UTC Sun Aug 16 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. ...TROPICAL WAVES... The axis of a tropical wave is along 87W north of 04N to inland western Nicaragua and Honduras and continuing in the NW Caribbean Sea, moving westward at around 10 kt. Nearby convection is discussed in the ITCZ/monsoon trough section below. The axis of a tropical wave is near 106W south of 17N, moving westward at around 10 kt. Nearby convection is discussed in the ITCZ/monsoon trough section below. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 1006 mb low pressure over northern Colombia near 10N75W to 10N84W to 07N105W. The ITCZ extends from 06N108W to 04N119W to 08N128W to beyond 05N140W. Numerous moderate isolated strong convection is noted from 02N to 10.5N between 77W and 102W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 02N to 16N between 108W and 119W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted within 150 nm south of the ITCZ between 120W and 128W, and from 02N to 16N between 128W and 135W. Similar convection is from 00N to 07N between 135W and 140W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Fresh to near gale north gap winds are over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Moderate to fresh northwest winds are near the Pacific coast of Baja California, locally strong near Punta Eugenia. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker. Seas are 6 to 9 ft over the Gulf of Tehuantepec, 4 to 6 ft over the remaining open Pacific offshore waters, and 1 to 3 ft over the Gulf of California. No significant deep convection is occurring over the Mexican offshore zones. For the forecast, the pressure gradient between high pressure over the Gulf of America and relatively lower pressure south of Mexico will continue to induce pulses of fresh to strong north winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec through Wed, then moderate to fresh thereafter. Winds may reach near gale force at times through Tue. Moderate to fresh northwest winds are forecast off of the Baja California peninsula through Tue, with winds reaching strong speeds near and north of Punta Eugenia east of 117W. Elsewhere, winds and seas should remain rather calm until at least mid next week. Looking ahead, an area of low pressure could form several hundred nautical miles south of the coast of southern Mexico around the middle portion of next week. Some gradual development of this system is possible thereafter while the system moves west-northwestward well south of Mexico. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong northeast to east gap winds are over the Gulf of Papagayo region. Seas there are 6 to 8 ft. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker north of the monsoon trough, and moderate to fresh south of the monsoon trough, locally strong near the Gulf of Guayaquil. Seas are 4 to 7 ft in long-period southwest swell over the remainder of forecast waters, except to 8 ft near the Galapagos Islands. Active convection is present near the monsoon trough as described above. For the forecast, the pressure gradient between high pressure over the western Caribbean and relatively lower pressure over Central America will lead to fresh to strong northeast to east gap winds over the Gulf of Papagayo region through Sun night before weakening early next week with winds diminishing to moderate to fresh there. Moderate to fresh southerly winds will pulse south of the monsoon trough through Mon. Large southerly swell will impact the waters mainly from Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands through the next several days, largest expected by around the middle portion of the upcoming week. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... The remnants of Hernan, low pressure of 1007 mb, are located near 16N136W. Nearby winds are 20 to 25 kt in the NW semicircle with seas of 8 to 10 ft. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection has flared up within 90 nm in the NE quadrant. Moderate to locally fresh winds are found elsewhere from 14N to 24N between 135W and 140W. Moderate to fresh southerly winds are found south of the Equator. Moderate or weaker winds dominate the remainder of the waters. Seas are 7 to 10 ft south of about 02N between 89W and 120W, amd 5 to 7 ft across the remainder of the waters. For the forecast, moderate to fresh southeast winds will prevail south of the Equator. Rough seas will pulse on either side near the Equator to the east of about 130W over the next several days in persistent and reinforced southerly swells. The remnants of Hernan and associated residual winds and seas will shift of 140W by tomorrow evening. Looking ahead, an area of low pressure could form several hundred nautical miles south of the coast of southern Mexico around the middle portion of next week. Some gradual development of this system is possible thereafter while the system moves west-northwestward well south of Mexico. Additionally, an area of low pressure is expected form well to the west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula early next week. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the middle to latter portions of next week while it moves generally westward across the western portion of the east Pacific.