000 AXNT20 KNHC 071000 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1205 UTC Thu Apr 7 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1000 UTC. ...Special Features... Gulf of Mexico Gale Warning: A tight pressure gradient west of a cold front over the Gulf of Mexico is supporting near gale force winds with frequent gusts to gale force west of the front. Sustained gale- force winds will develop offshore of Veracruz, Mexico this morning and persist through this afternoon. Winds will diminish below gale- force by this evening. Seas will peak around 10 ft today. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast 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 Sierra Leone near 07N13W to 00N18.5W. The ITCZ continues from 00N18.5W to 01S44W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted from 01N to 09N between 07W and 16W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 02S to 03N between 30W and 50W. GULF OF MEXICO... Please see Special Features section above for information on the Gale Warning in effect for the waters offshore Veracruz, Mexico. A cold front extends from the Florida panhandle to near Tampico, Mexico. Fresh to strong winds, with frequent gusts to gale force prevail west of the front. Gentle to moderate winds prevail over the eastern Gulf. Light to gentle winds are noted elsewhere. Seas are in the 7-9 ft range west of the front, 4-5 ft over the eastern Gulf, and 2-4 ft elsewhere. Areas of haze generated by agricultural fires over Mexico and northern Central America are reducing the visibility along and offshore portions of the SW and west-central Gulf ahead of the front. As the front brings strong winds, the fires may grow. For the forecast, the cold front will continue to move SE and exit the basin Fri. Gale force winds will develop offshore Veracruz, Mexico this morning, and continue through this evening. High pressure will build in the wake of the front through the weekend. Areas of smoke from agricultural fires could reduce visibilities over the western Gulf. CARIBBEAN SEA... Fresh to strong winds prevail over the south central Caribbean as well as over the Gulf of Honduras. Moderate to fresh winds are noted over the north central Caribbean, and moderate winds are elsewhere. Seas are in the 7-9 ft range over the south central Caribbean, 4-5 ft over the eastern Caribbean, 2-4 ft in the lee of Cuba, and 5-7 ft elsewhere. For the forecast, high pressure north of the area will support fresh to strong winds in the south-central Caribbean near the coast of Colombia today before diminishing. Winds will then pulse to strong each night. Fresh to strong winds in the Gulf of Honduras will continue through tonight. Moderate to fresh winds will prevail elsewhere. A cold front will reach the Yucatan Channel Fri, then move through the NW Caribbean this weekend. ATLANTIC OCEAN... High pressure dominates the Atlantic basin, anchored by 1026 mb high pressure centered near 33N20W. Fresh to strong winds prevail off the coast of northern Florida with moderate to fresh winds elsewhere west of 70W. Light to gentle winds dominate the remainder of the tropical and subtropical waters north of 22N. Moderate to fresh winds prevail south of 22N. Seas are in the 3-5 ft range north of 21N and west of 55W, and 6-9 ft elsewhere. For the forecast west of 65W, fresh to strong S winds offshore N Florida will continue today, ahead of a cold front that will move off the coast of the SE U.S this evening. The front will reach from near 31N75W to western Cuba Fri morning, from 31N68W to central Cuba Sat morning, from 29N65W to E Cuba Sun morning, and from 24N65W to E Cuba Mon morning. Strong NW winds will develop offshore N Florida behind the front this weekend. $$ AL