000 AXNT20 KNHC 252343 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Fri Feb 26 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2345 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Caribbean Gale Warning: Gale force NE to E winds will continue to pulse within about 90 nm of the coast of Colombia for the next several nights, as the pressure gradient remains enhanced between the Colombian/Panamanian low and high pressure over the western Atlantic. Seas are forecast to reach 12-16 ft during the periods of strongest winds. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast from the National Hurricane Center at website www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coast of Guinea-Bissau near 11N15W to 07N20W. The ITCZ continues from 07N20W to 02N34W to 0N50W. No significant convection is noted at this time. GULF OF MEXICO... A weak ridge extending across the northern Gulf from a 1023 mb high pressure over the northeast Gulf continue to support gentle to moderate return flow. Clear skies dominates the basin under middle to upper level dry air subsidence, except over the far NW Gulf where dense fog have been reported, including the Texas coastal waters. Weak surface ridging will persist through Fri, then lift northward. Gentle to moderate SE winds should prevail across most of the Gulf Sat through Mon. A weak cold front may reach W Gulf on Tue. Sea fog is possible tonight over NW Gulf, persisting through early next week. CARIBBEAN SEA... Fair weather conditions prevail this evening under the influence of a middle to upper level high covering the central and western Caribbean. Only passing showers has been reported near the Cayman Islands. The base of a middle to upper level trough extends to the far eastern Caribbean and along with shallow moisture support passing showers across most of the Lesser Antilles. Otherwise, persistent high pressure north of the area is supporting fresh to strong trade winds over the eastern, central and portions of the SW Caribbean, reaching near gale force along the coast of Colombia. The Bermuda High north of the region will support fresh to strong E trades across central and E Caribbean through at least Tue night, with winds pulsing to gale force off the coast of Colombia mainly during overnight and early morning hours. Fresh to strong NE winds in the Windward Passage will persist through Mon. Fresh to strong E trades should develop in the Gulf of Honduras nightly beginning Sat night through Mon night. N swell with E wind waves are producing combined seas of up to 10 ft in the tropical Atlantic waters east of the Windward Islands. These conditions will prevail through Mon. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1022 mb high pressure near 28N73W is leading to gentle winds over most of the area north of 24N and west of 40W. An exception is moderate NW winds seen to the west of a surface trough that extends from Ft. Lauderdale Florida to 32N78W. Isolated showers are near the surface trough. Fresh trades are south of 22N near Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Seas are mainly 4 to 6 ft in open waters west of 60W. Farther east, a cold front extends from 32N43W to 29N49W to 28N56W with isolated showers and moderate wind speeds. In the far NE Atlantic, a cold front extends from 32N10W through the Canary Islands to 27N20W. A dissipating stationary front is from 27N20W to 24N29W. Strong to near gale force NE winds cover this area of the NE Atlantic from 20N-30N, east of 27W. Fresh to strong trade winds cover the tropical Atlantic from 06N-24W between 35W-60W. Northerly swell prevails east of 60W, with seas reaching 8 to 12 ft in most areas, and as high as 15 ft over the eastern Atlantic, where an altimeter pass from 25/0554 UTC showed seas of 13-15 ft from 19N-31N between 29W-34W. For the forecast, a weak cold front will move from west to east across the western Atlantic north of 28N tonight and Fri. As the Bermuda High builds north of the area behind the front, fresh to strong E winds will be supported across the waters south of 22N and west of 65W late Fri through late Mon. N swell combined with E wind waves in this area will produce combined seas up to 10 ft late Sat through Mon north of Haiti and Puerto Rico. In the tropical N Atlantic waters east of the Windward Islands, N swell with E wind waves will continue to produce combined seas of up to 10 ft through Mon. $$ Ramos