Eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion
025 AXPZ20 KNHC 191548 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1605 UTC Wed Aug 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURE... The axis of a tropical wave is near 137W, from 17N southward, moving westward at around 15 kt. 1008 mb low pressure is analyzed near the wave at 09.5N136.5W, and has been designated Invest EP90. Scattered to numerous moderate to strong convection is noted from 00N to 14.5N between 130W and 146W. This area of active convection is showing some signs of organization. Environmental conditions appear conducive for further development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form within a few days while the system moves generally westward across the western portion of the east Pacific and into the Central Pacific. This system has a high chance of tropical formation in the next 48 hours. ...TROPICAL WAVES... The axis of a tropical wave is near 92W from 03N northward to Central America, moving westward at around 15 kt. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted from 04.5N to 15.5N between 85W and 97W. An area of low pressure is forecast to form several hundred nautical miles south- southwest of the coast of southern Mexico around the end of the week. Gradual development of this system is likely thereafter, and a tropical depression is expected to form this weekend while the system moves generally west-northwestward, remaining well offshore of Mexico. This system has a low chance of tropical development in the next 48 hours. The axis of a tropical wave is near 108W south of 17N, moving westward at 10 to 15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 04.5N to 13N between 104W and 114W. The axis of a tropical wave is near 137W, and is described above in the special features section. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from 11N74.5W to 08N91W to 09.5N107W to 07N126W to 11N136W to low pressure, Invest EP90, near 09.5N136.5W to beyond 08N140W. Other than the convection described above with three tropical waves, scattered moderate convection is noted from 03N to 08.5N E of 84.5W. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted from 09.5N to 15.5N between 98W and 104W, and from 03N to 14N between 114W and 130W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please refer to the Tropical Waves section above for information on a tropical wave that has a potential for tropical development offshore Mexico this upcoming weekend. High pressure across the NE Pacific extends a ridge south- southeastward into the regional waters to just northwest of the Revillagigedo Islands. The pressure gradient between this ridge and low pressure troughing across Baja California is yielding moderate NW to N winds across the near and offshore of Baja California north of Punta Eugenia, with fresh S to SE winds in the northern Gulf of California. Meanwhile, a tight pressure gradient over the Gulf of Tehuantepec ahead of an approaching tropical wave yields strong N to NE gap winds in the Gulf and extending downstream to near 13N96W. Resultant of 7 to 9 ft are present there. Winds are moderate or weaker across the remainder of the waters. Seas are 4 to 6 ft across the remainder of the offshore waters, and 1 to 3 ft inside the Gulf of California, except 4 to 5 ft in northern Gulf where the fresh winds are occurring. Showers and thunderstorms occurring overnight across Baja Sur and the adjacent waters have nearly ended as the associated upper level low center is shifting westward into the cooler Pacific waters. Scattered strong thunderstorms are drifting northwestward to near the coast of Oaxaca and SE Guerrero, as this convection interacts with an upper level trough across that area. For the forecast, northerly gap winds will continue to pulse to strong north winds over the Gulf of Tehuantepec each evening and night through the end of the week. Seas will occasionally build to rough during periods of strong winds. Low pressure across Baja California will sustain a southerly wind flow across the Gulf of California waters, with fresh winds expected across northern portions there through midday before gradually diminishing through Fri. Winds and seas will diminish modestly across the Baja offshore waters through the end of the week as high pressure weakens. Looking ahead, winds and seas are expected to build across the outer offshore waters of southwestern Mexico by Fri into the upcoming weekend in association with a developing area of low pressure, expected to develop outside of the offshore waters. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Refer to the Tropical Waves section above for details on any convection. Fresh to strong easterly gap winds continue across the Papagayo region overnight satellite scatterometer data, extending downwind to near 92W. Seas there are 6 to 8 ft with these winds. Winds are moderate or weaker elsewhere north of the monsoon trough, and moderate south of the monsoon trough, except fresh south of 02S, highest near the entrance of the Gulf of Guayaquil. Seas across most of the remainder of the waters north of the Equator are 4 to 6 ft in mixed cross equatorial S and SW swell, and 7 to 9 ft in S to SW swell south of 01N, highest south through southwest of the Galapagos Islands. For the forecast, the pressure gradient between high pressure over the northwestern Caribbean and relatively lower pressure over Central America will lead to fresh NE to E gap winds pulsing to strong winds over the Papagayo region each evening and night through the rest of the week and into the weekend, resulting in rough seas at times. Moderate to fresh winds extending well downwind of Papagayo will impact the outer waters offshore of El Salvador and Guatemala through the upcoming weekend. Moderate to locally fresh southerly winds south of the monsoon trough and across the Galapagos waters will gradually diminish tonight through Thu. Cross-quatorial SW swell moving into the regional waters will continue to merge with larger S to SE swell dominating the southern Pacific waters well south of the Galapagos to produce rough seas 8 ft and greater south of the Equator, and moderate seas elsewhere through Thu before the rough seas area subsides. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... See Tropical Waves section above for information on two tropical waves that have potential for tropical development later this week and into the upcoming weekend. High pressure across the NE Pacific extends a ridge south- southeastward into the regional waters to just northwest of the Revillagigedo Islands. Moderate to locally fresh NE to E winds are noted from around 10N to 21N between 124W and 140W. Seas are 6 to 8 ft across these waters with a tropical wave helping to enhance conditions there. Moderate to fresh SE to S winds are found south of 05N, with winds mainly moderate or weaker across the remainder of the waters. Seas are 7 to 10 ft south of 04N in mixed cross equatorial swell, and mainly 5 to 7 ft across the remainder of the waters, slightly lower in the north- central waters right under the ridging. Scattered to numerous moderate to strong showers and thunderstorms accompany the tropical wave along 137W, and cover the area from 00N to 14.5N between 130W and 146W. For the forecast, regardless of tropical development, the tropical waves described above will bring some increasing winds and seas to area waters, as they move south of the current ridge in place. Away from these waves, little change is expected in marine weather through the week and into the upcoming weekend.