000 AXNT20 KNHC 260101 AAA TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion...Updated NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0101 UTC Sat Mar 26 2022 Updated Atlantic Ocean section 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2345 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough axis extends from the coast of Sierra Leone near 08N13W to 05N14W, where latest scatterometer data indicates that it transitions to the ITCZ and continues to 00N19W to 03S28W to 02S33W and to the Brazil coast near 01S46W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is seen from 02S to 05S between 24W-28W and within 30 nm of the ITCZ between 18W-22W. Scattered moderate convection is from 03S to 08S between 30W-35W, within 120 nm north of the ITCZ between 34W-36W and from 00N to 03N between 42W-46W. Similar convection is from 01N to 04N between 48W and the coast of Brazil. GULF OF MEXICO... The earlier cold front that moved across the Gulf has become stationary from western Cuba to the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Fresh to strong north winds are within 90 to 120 nm to its northwest along with wave heights to 8 ft near and in the Yucatan Channel. A secondary cold front, void of precipitation, extends from Apalachicola, Florida to the central Gulf near 25N89W. Scattered to broken low and mid-level clouds are along the front. Mainly fresh northwest winds are behind this front to 90W along with wave heights of 3-5 ft. A 1023 mb high pressure center is analyzed in the southwestern Gulf near 21N92W. Its associated anticyclonic flow is producing moderate southwest winds east of northern Mexico to near 95W, gentle to moderate north winds in the eastern Bay of Campeche and gentle winds elsewhere west of 92W, except for light and variable winds in the southwestern part of the Bay of Campeche. Wave heights are in the range of 3-5 ft across the basin, except near the Yucatan Channel. For the forecast, conditions in the extreme southeastern Gulf and near the Yucatan Channel will diminish through late tonight. The secondary cold front will reach the Straits of Florida and the extreme southeastern Gulf early on Sat. Winds will become gentle to moderate in speeds over the eastern Gulf. CARIBBEAN SEA... Mid-level anticyclonic flow prevails across the basin, which is leading to subsidence and mostly dry conditions over the central and eastern Caribbean, with fresh to strong trade winds as depicted in the latest ASCAT data passes. Isolated brief showers moving westward with the trade wind flow are possible over some areas of the basin north of about 12N and east of 72W and north of 13N between 72W-81W. The recent Gulf of Mexico cold front has become stationary from western Cuba to 20N85W and to the Gulf of Honduras. Fresh to strong north to northeast winds are behind the front in and near the Yucatan Channel and western Gulf of Honduras. Wave heights of up to 8 ft are in the Yucatan Channel and south of there to near 19N86W. Wave heights of 8-10 ft are in the south-central and southwestern Caribbean, with the highest near northwest Colombia. Buoy data and latest altimeter data passes also show wave heights of 7-9 ft over the north- central and eastern basin and 4-6 ft seas in the northwestern Caribbean. For the forecast, the aforementioned stationary front will gradually dissipate over central Cuba and eastern Honduras by Sun. A high pressure progressing eastward across the NE Gulf of Mexico will allow for northeast trade winds to increase to fresh to strong speeds over the north-central Caribbean, south of Cuba and the Windward Passage. Moderate to fresh winds across the eastern and central Caribbean will decrease further to moderate by Sat afternoon. Fresh to locally strong trades over the south- central Caribbean north of Colombia will continue through early next week. Fresh trade winds along with larger trade-wind swell will remain over the Atlantic waters east of the Lesser Antilles through Mon. ATLANTIC OCEAN...Updated A cold front is analyzed from near 30N73W to the central Bahamas and to western Cuba. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are within 180 nm ahead of it north of 28N. Fresh south to southwest winds are ahead of the front to near 65W and north of 27N, while moderate to fresh northwest winds are behind it. Farther east, another cold front extends across the central and eastern Atlantic from near 31N30W to 25N37W and to 21N48W. A post-frontal trough extends from near 30N32W to 24N44W. Strong northwest to north winds are north of front and trough east of 42W, with wave heights of 10-16 ft. High pressure of 1023 mb is north of the area near 33N53W, with a ridge extending southwestward to the Greater Antilles. The associated gradient is maintaining mainly moderate anticyclonic flow between 40W- 57W. Fresh to strong trade winds are present west of 50W to the Lesser Antilles. Gentle to moderate trade winds are elsewhere. Rough seas are north of 20N and between 55W and 30W, as well as south of 20N and west of 53W to the Lesser Antilles. Wave heights of 6-8 ft are present elsewhere across the basin. For the forecast W of 65W, the cold front that is along the position from near 30N73W to the central Bahamas and to western Cuba will steadily progress eastward through Sat. Winds east and west of the front will shift eastward into early Sat. This should also allow fresh southeast winds offshore north of Hispaniola to diminish to moderate speeds by early on Sat. Another cold front will move off the southeastern U.S. coast tonight. In response, winds off the northern and central Florida coast will become fresh to strong late tonight, and continue into Sun afternoon. High pressure exiting the Florida coast early next week should bring improving marine conditions. For the forecast E of 65W, the eastern and central Atlantic cold front and post-frontal trough will shift to east of 35W while weakening by late Sun as the parent low also shifts eastward and weakens. Related winds slowly diminish, however, the wave heights in the range of 10-16 ft will change little. $$ Aguirre