GOES-16 (GOES-East) “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images (above) indicated that a strong arctic cold front (surface analyses) had plunged southward across Mexico, through the Chivela Pass, and emerged as a Tehuano (or “Tehuantepecer“) gap wind into the Gulf of Tehuantepec on 24 December 2020. Along the Gulf of Mexico coast, a few sites in Mexico reported blowing dust and/or blowing sand with onshore winds gusting to 40 knots.

GOES-16 True Color RGB images created using Geo2Grid (below) showed the hazy signature of blowing dust/sand as it was transported off the south coast of Mexico and spread out across the Gulf of Tehuantepec.

===== 25 December Update =====

On the following day, GOES-16 Visible images (above) showed that the leading edge of the gap wind flow — marked by a broad arc cloud — was approaching the ITCZ / Monsoon Trough in the Pacific Ocean. Ship reports of 30-35 knot winds were seen within the offshore flow — and ASCAT surface scatterometer winds revealed speeds as high as 44 knots.

GOES-16 True Color RGB images (below) showed the hazy signature of blowing dust from Mexico as it spread out across the Pacific Ocean.

Aided by enhanced forward scattering during the morning hours, True Color RGB images from GOES-17 (GOES-West) showed the hazy signature of airborne dust from Mexico a bit better (below).