000 AXNT20 KNHC 150547 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0605 UTC Mon Feb 15 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Mexico Gale Warning: A strong cold front with attendant low pressure has formed off the coast of southern Texas. The front will reach from Tampa Bay, Florida to Cancun, Mexico by early Tue, then dissipate Tue night. Gale force northerly winds are expected in the northwestern and west-central Gulf late tonight through Monday afternoon to the west of the low pressure and behind the front. Seas will increase to 17 ft Mon over the west central Gulf near the coast of Mexico. Winds and seas will diminish across the region by early Tue. See the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by National Hurricane Center at the website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for further details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic ocean off the coast of Sierra Leone near 08N13W to 04N20W. The ITCZ continues from 04N20W to 00N37W to 02S44W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted from 2N-5N between 11W-30W. GULF OF MEXICO... A Gale Warning has been issued for the Gulf of Mexico. See the Special Features section for details. As of 0300 UTC: A stationary front reaches from Cedar Key, Florida to a 1013 mb low pressure near 29N85W, to the central Gulf near 26N90W. To the west, a 1009 mb low has formed off the southern Texas coast near 25N95W where a sharp trough previously was located. This low pressure is associated with a cold front that extends to Tampico, Mexico, and a warm front that extends eastward and connects with the stalled boundary near 26N90W. Buoy and platform data are showing winds increasing to near gale force behind the low. Convection is ongoing in the far northwestern gulf behind the system with seas ranging 5-7 ft. Ahead of the front, a recent pass ASCAT reveals gentle to moderate easterly flow. The cold front will and the associated low pressure will move eastward across the basin. Gale force northerly winds are expected in the northwestern and west-central Gulf late tonight through Monday evening to the west of the low pressure and behind the front. A wintry mix of precipitation is likely along the coastlines of Texas and Louisiana tonight and Mon morning. Winds and seas will diminish across the region by early Tue. The next cold front will enter the western Gulf late Wed, then exit east of the basin by Fri afternoon. Strong to near gale force winds are likely to precede and follow this front across the basin, with gale force winds possible off Veracruz Thu. On a side note, strong westerly winds are observed east of the Sierra Madre Occidental over northern Mexico. This pattern may persist through the early part of the week. These winds could reach gale force and appear to be related to a strong mid-level trough and high terrain in that region. CARIBBEAN SEA... Recent scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh trade winds across most of the central and eastern parts of the basin, with mainly moderate winds in the western portion of the basin. Fresh to strong winds are likely still occurring south of Hispaniola to Colombia and western Venezuela. Seas are estimated to be 6 to 9 ft over the eastern and central Caribbean, with 4 to 6 ft in the northwest Caribbean. A few thunderstorms are evident over the waters south of Cuba. Elsewhere, high pressure north of the area is allowing for dry conditions to prevail, aside from scattered fast-moving showers embedded in the trade wind flow in the central Caribbean. The high pressure north of the area will maintain fresh to strong trade winds across the central and eastern Caribbean through the middle of this week. By that time, winds off Colombia will pulse to near gale force at night, with gales possible Tue night and Wed night. SE winds will increase in the Gulf of Honduras on Wed night/early Thu also as a strong cold front approaches from the Gulf of Mexico. The cold front is expected to enter the NW Caribbean Fri, with strong N winds behind the front. Large north swell will continue to affect the tropical N Atlantic waters, to the east of the Lesser Antilles, through the middle of this week. ATLANTIC OCEAN... West of 65W, a cluster of thunderstorms is active along a stationary front off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. Southerly winds within 100 nm east of the front, north of 28N are fresh to strong. No significant weather is noted elsewhere. A ridge extends from 1026 mb high pressure near 28N52W eastward into northeast Florida. This pattern is maintaining gentle to moderate SE winds mostly north of 22N, and moderate to fresh E winds south of 22N. Seas are generally 5-10 ft in open waters. For the forecast, high pressure over the region will support fresh to strong winds north of Hispaniola through Thu night. Fresh to strong S winds are expected east of northern Florida Mon night and Tue ahead of a cold front that will move off Florida on Tue. The front will become stationary Tue night from 31N74W to West Palm Beach Florida before lifting north and dissipating Wed night. Winds will increase from N of Hispaniola through the Bahamas and east of Florida early Thu as a cold front moves E through the Gulf of Mexico. This cold front will move E of Florida early Fri, and extend from 31N71W to central Cuba Fri evening. Fresh to strong winds will follow the front. Elsewhere, east of the 1025 mb high pressure near 28N52W, the cold front previously reaching from near Madeira to 25N45W has dissipated. A stationary front enters our area near 32N27W extending to 26N42W. No significant weather is associated with this front. Mostly gentle to moderate winds persist north of 20N, with moderate to fresh trades prevalent south of 20N, mainly south of the high pressure west of 50W. Large NW swell in excess of 8 ft dominates mainly east of 55W, with the highest seas over the discussion area possibly reaching 14 ft near 32N30W. Large north swell will continue to affect the tropical north Atlantic waters, east of the Lesser Antilles, through the middle of the week. $$ Mora