000 AXNT20 KNHC 071742 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Thu Jan 7 2021 Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, northern sections of South America, and Atlantic Ocean to the African coast from the Equator to 32N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis. Based on 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1650 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Mexico Gale Warning: A cold front spilling south through the central Gulf is being followed by strong N-NW winds. Gales will develop today offshore Veracruz, then diminish to fresh to strong tonight. Seas will peak up to around 10 ft this afternoon. Please, read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center, at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more details. East Atlantic Gale Warning: A powerful low pressure centered around 32N18W will continue to produce a broad area of gales between the Azores and Canary Islands. These gale conditions will continue to impact the METEO FRANCE areas of Irving, Madeira, and Agadir and also affect portions Canarias later today. For Friday, gales will prevail over portions of Canarias, Agadir, and Tarfaya. Please, refer to the following website, http://www.gmdss.org/II.html for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coast of Sierra Leone near 08N13W to 07N14W. The ITCZ continues from 07N14W to 05N30W, and 04N48W. Scattered moderate convection is noted north of the equator and south of the monsoon trough between 5W- 15W off the coast of Liberia. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm of the ITCZ between 27W- 50W. GULF OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features section above information on a gale warning for portions of the SW Gulf of Mexico. A cold front extends from Gulfport, MS to S of Tampico, Mexico near 21N97W. A band of numerous moderate to scattered strong convection is located along and ahead of the front stretching over the eastern Gulf of Mexico east of 90W. Scattered moderate convection associated with the front is also noted in the SW Gulf in the Bay of Campeche. In the northern Gulf, an ASCAT pass from 1500 UTC revealed fresh to strong E winds behind the front, with strong to near gale S-SE winds ahead of it, north of 25N. Seas behind the front range from 3- 6 ft. In the southeast area of the basin, gentle to moderate SE winds prevail. The cold front that stretches from southern Mississippi to south of Tampico, Mexico, will continue moving across the Gulf through tonight, then exit the basin early Fri. This will bring a surge of NW winds and seas of 7 to 9 ft to most areas, with gales today offshore Veracruz, Mexico. High pressure will build over the Gulf in the wake of the front with moderate winds prevailing through Sat. The next cold front will push off the Texas coast by Sun evening and bring strong NW winds across the basin once again on Mon. Gales are forecast again offshore Veracruz Mon. USCG telecommunications issues may affect ability to receive NAVTEX and VOBRA messages. USCG is actively working on the issue. We apologize for the inconvenience. CARIBBEAN SEA... As of 1500 UTC, a surface trough extends off the coast of Cuba near 22N82W to the NE Yucatan Peninsula near 21N87W causing isolated showers and thunderstorms in the NW Caribbean. Elsewhere, an area of scattered moderate convection is located southeast of the windward islands off the coast of Venezuela and west of 57W. Moderate to fresh trades dominate the basin. Seas average 3- 6 ft, highest in the south-central basin. Generally moderate trades will prevail over the basin through late week, with nightly pulses of strong winds expected off the Colombia coast. A cold front will enter the Yucatan Channel tonight and linger in the NW Caribbean through the weekend. Fresh to strong trade winds can be expected toward the end of the weekend and into early next week for the central and eastern Caribbean. USCG telecommunications issues may affect ability to receive NAVTEX and VOBRA messages. USCG is actively working the issue. We apologize for the inconvenience. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please see Special Features section above for information on gale conditions in the far eastern Atlantic. A cold front extends from 32N47W to 21N66W then transitions into a stationary front to eastern Cuba near 20N74W. Fresh to strong winds are north of 30N west of the front. To the east, a 1019 mb high pressure centered near 24N45W is keeping winds N of it light to gentle with moderate to locally fresh trades prevail. Seas range from 8- 16 ft peaking in the far northeast Atlantic near 30N30W. The cold front from 32N47W to just N of Hispaniola will drift S and E today, then dissipate Fri. The next cold front will move off the Florida coast early Fri morning, bringing a broad area of strong to near gale-force winds on both sides of it N of 26N through Sat night. By Mon, winds will shift to the southeast ahead of the next system. USCG telecommunications issues may affect ability to receive NAVTEX and VOBRA messages. USCG is actively working the issue. We apologize for the inconvenience. $$ MORA