Eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion
449 AXPZ20 KNHC 180943 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1005 UTC Fri Sep 18 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 0920 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... A tropical wave extends from 07N to 17N with axis near 117W and low pressure of 1009 mb near 12N117W (Invest EP98). The wave is moving westward at about 10 kt. Satellite imagery reveal scattered moderate to strong convection from 08N to 17N between 112W and 124W. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form this weekend as it moves westward at 10 to 15 kt across the western part of the East Pacific and into the central Pacific basin. There is a medium formation chance through 48 hours and high formation chance through 7 days. Please refer to the latest NHC Tropical Weather Outlook at website: www.hurricanes.gov for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave extends from 05N to 17N with axis near 101W, moving westward at around 10 to 15 kt. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is seen from 04N to 19N between 90W and 110W. The environmental conditions of the tropical wave, which is moving across the Guerrero, Mexico offshore waters is conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this weekend or early next week while it moves gradually northwestward and then northward off the coast of southwestern Mexico. There is a low formation chance through 48 hours and high formation chance through 7 days. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough axis extends from 09N84W to 06N1O6W to 15N128W. Aside from the convection associated with the tropical waves and former TD15-E, scattered moderate to strong convection is from 02N to 08N between 77W and 91W. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... The pressure gradient between a ridge over the Gulf of America and the eastern extension of the Pacific monsoon is supporting strong to near-gale force N to NE gap winds across the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Seas are 7 to 8 ft. A tropical wave moving across the Guerrero offshore waters is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over that region. Surface ridging west of the Baja California offshores is supporting moderate to fresh NW winds N of Cabo San Lazaro. Moderate or weaker winds are elsewhere along with moderate seas, except for slight seas in the Gulf of California. For the forecast, winds will continue to pulse in Tehuantepec at fresh to strong speeds through Sat. The environmental conditions of the tropical wave moving across the Guerrero offshores is conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this weekend or early next week while it moves gradually northwestward and then northward off the coast of southwestern Mexico. Regardless of development, this system is forecast to bring fresh to strong winds and moderate to rough seas to the Michoacan and Jalisco offshores Tue night into midweek. Otherwise, moderate to fresh NW winds will persist along the Baja Peninsula offshores, reaching strong speeds at night today and Mon. ...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... Fresh to strong NE to E winds prevail across the Gulf of Papagayo extending downstream to near 90W. Moderate easterly winds from this gap event are affecting the outer offshores El Salvador and Guatemala. Moderate or weaker winds prevail elsewhere, except for moderate to fresh N winds in the Gulf of Panama extending to about 07N. Seas across the offshores are moderate in SW swell. For the forecast, the pressure gradient between the ridge north of the area and the eastern Pacific monsoon will support pulsing fresh to occasionally strong easterly winds and moderate to rough seas across the Papagayo region into Fri, then pulsing to moderate to fresh thereafter. Moderate winds and seas will prevail elsewhere. ...REMAINDER OF THE AREA... A 1008 mb low, remnant of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E is located near 17N134W. Fresh to strong northeast to east winds are within 480 nm northern semcircle of the low. Seas are 7 to 10 ft with these winds. Satellite imagery shows scattered moderate isolated strong convection from 07N to 21N between 124W and 140W. Moderate to fresh NE to E winds and rough seas to 9 ft are within 210 nm northern semicircle of a 1009 mb low associated with Invest EP98. Elsewhere, winds are moderate or weaker and seas are moderate, except rough in the vicinity of EP98. For the forecast, see the Special Features and the Tropical Waves Section. Otherwise, environmental conditions appear only marginally conducive for some development of the remnants of TD 15-E as it moves gradually westward, remaining east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.