000 AXNT20 KNHC 161800 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Wed Feb 16 2022 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 31N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis. Based on 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1730 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Caribbean Sea Gale-Force Wind Warning: Atlantic Ocean high pressure, and comparatively lower surface pressures in northern Colombia, will continue to support pulsing winds to gale-force offshore of northern Colombia at night through Sunday night. It is possible that the wind speeds may reach 40 knots at times. The sea heights will range from 12 feet to 13 feet, around sunrise each morning, before subsiding through the morning and afternoon hours. Please, read the latest High Seas Forecast, that is issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal plains of Liberia near 07N11W to 03N27W. The ITCZ is not discernible at this moment. Precipitation: isolated to widely scattered moderate, and isolated strong are from 08N southward from 55W eastward. GULF OF MEXICO... A surface ridge passes through the Florida Panhandle, into the southwestern corner of the Gulf of Mexico, near 20N and the coast of Mexico. Fresh to strong winds and seas of 7 to 10 ft are in the southeast Gulf through the Straits of Florida. Fresh to strong winds have developed in the NW Gulf offshore of Texas as the pressure gradient tightens, between ridging that is to the north of the basin and lowering surface pressures in central Texas. The sea heights are ranging from 5 feet to 7 feet, and building. Mainly moderate to fresh E-SE winds are elsewhere with the surface ridge, with sea heights ranging from 3 feet to 6 feet. Isolated rainshowers are possible in the Gulf of Mexico. Moderate to locally fresh return flow is across the central basin. Fresh to strong E and SE winds are elsewhere, including in the Florida Straits. Fresh to strong southerly return flow, that is in the NW Gulf, will continue to grow in areal extent through tonight. These strong winds then will move eastward, through the northern Gulf Wed night into Thu. The next cold front is expected to enter the western Gulf on Thu, and extend from the Florida Panhandle to Veracruz in Mexico, early on Friday. The front will move very slowly southeastward, during the start of the weekend, gradually pushing across the basin through early Sunday, while washing out. CARIBBEAN SEA... Gale-force winds are forecast to return to the coastal waters of Colombia, tonight, from 11N to 12N between 74W and 76W. Please, read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details. Fresh to strong winds are in the Lee of Cuba along with 5 to 7 ft seas. Fresh to strong winds and seas to 8 ft are blowing across the approach to the Windward Passage. Fresh to strong winds cover the rest of the central Caribbean Sea. Moderate to fresh trades are in the remainder of the basin. Seas of 7 to 11 ft cover the south central and SW Caribbean Sea, with 4 to 7 ft seas elsewhere. Isolated to scattered showers are possible in the trade wind flow. The wind speeds will pulse to gale force off Colombia each night through Sun night, while strong winds will expand in areal coverage across the central Caribbean Sea through Thu night. Also, fresh to strong NE winds will funnel through the Windward Passage through Sun night. Fresh to strong NE winds in the lee of Cuba will continue through tonight. Otherwise, fresh to strong trade winds and building seas will prevail over the tropical north Atlantic waters east of the Lesser Antilles through Sun. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A stationary front is along 31N51W 28N60W 26N70W, to the NW Bahamas and 24N79W. A cold front is about 240 nm to the north of the stationary front. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is within 360 nm to the north of the stationary front. Rainshowers are possible within 240 nm to the south of the front. The sea heights are ranging from 8 feet to 13 feet, to the northwest of the stationary front, between 50W and 60W. The sea heights are ranging from 7 feet to 10 feet, from 23N southward, between 45W and 60W. The sea heights are ranging from 4 feet to 7 feet, elsewhere, between 45W and 60W. The sea heights are ranging from 6 feet to 9 feet, from 27N southward, between 30W and 45W. The sea heights are ranging from 3 feet to 5 feet, from 27N northward between 30W and 45W. The sea heights are ranging from 6 feet to 9 feet, from 09N to 27N, from 30W eastward. The sea heights are ranging from 4 feet to 6 feet, elsewhere, from 30W eastward. Strong to near gale-force NE-to-E winds are from 12N to 18N between 31W and 35W. Near gale-force NE winds are within 180 nm of the coast of Africa, from 20N near Mauritania, to 23N near the Western Sahara. Strong NE winds are in the area that is bounded by the points: 31N10W 26N32W 10N38W 15N21W, to the coast of Africa at 15N. Strong NE winds are from 17N southward between 50W and 61W. Strong to near gale-force winds are to the northwest of the stationary front, and within 60 nm to the south of the stationary front. An upper level cyclonic circulation center is near 24N34W. Upper level cyclonic wind flow, around the cyclonic center and a trough, covers the Atlantic Ocean from 10N northward between 27W and 45W. Broken to overcast multilayered clouds, and widely scattered moderate rainshowers, cover the area from 10N to 28N from 27W eastward. The stationary front continues from 25N65W northeastward as a cold front to 31N52W with a trough analyzed ahead of the front from 30N52W to 24N59W. Scattered showers are possible on either side of both of these features. Ridging dominates the remainder of the basin extending from high pressure north of the area over the Azores. Fresh to strong NE-E trades and resultant 8 to 11 ft seas are noted south of 20N and west of 44W. Fresh to strong NE winds are noted from 13N to 31N between the west coast of Africa and 32W, including through the Canary Islands and the Cabo Verde Islands. Seas are 6 to 9 ft across this area. Moderate to fresh trades and 5 to 8 ft seas prevail elsewhere south of 24N, with gentle to moderate anticyclonic flow and seas of 4 to 6 ft north of 24N and ahead of the front. A stationary front extending from 27N65W SW to Andros island will gradually weaken today, and then transition into a shearline through tonight. Fresh to strong NE winds to the west of the boundary will continue to expand across the region as high pressure strengthens through Thu. High pressure will settle into the region at the end of the week leading to improved conditions. A weaker cold front is forecast to move off northern Florida Fri night and extend from 30N65W to Andros Island Sat night and stall from 28N65W to the central Bahamas Sun night. $$ MT