000 AXNT20 KNHC 171723 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Tue May 17 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 1715 UTC. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave is analyzed with axis along 28W and south of 10N, moving west at 15 kt. Latest scatterometer data depicts a windshift in the area and scattered showers are noted in satellite imagery between 26W-33W. A tropical wave is located in the central Caribbean with axis along 74W and south of 15N, moving west at 10 to 15 kt. This position corresponds with an area of enhanced moisture seen on total precipitable water imagery. Scattered showers have developed this morning in the vicinity of the wave, mainly between 72W-77W. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Africa near 16N17W to 12N24W. The ITCZ is analyzed west of a tropical wave near 03N31W to 02N50W. Scattered moderate convection is noted south of 05N between 32W-50W. GULF OF MEXICO... A 1017 mb high pressure located over the central Gulf near 27N90W and dominates the basin. Latest scatterometer data depicts fresh NW winds off the western coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, gentle to moderate southerlies in the western Gulf, and light breezes in the eastern Gulf. Buoys are reporting seas of 2-4 ft in the western Gulf and Bay of Campeche, with 1-3 ft seas elsewhere. For the forecast, the high pressure over the central Gulf will maintain gentle to moderate S to SE winds over the western half of the basin and light to gentle variable wind across the eastern Gulf into mid week. SE winds will increase to moderate to fresh speeds over the western Gulf tonight through Sat night, expanding to the eastern Gulf Thu night through Sat as low pressure develops along Central America and the Bermuda high extends into portions of the E Gulf. CARIBBEAN SEA... The pressure gradient between high pressure in the Atlantic and lower pressure over South America is maintaining moderate to fresh easterlies in the central and eastern Caribbean, while light to gentle winds prevail in the NW Caribbean, where a surface trough is analyzed along 83W and north of 15N. Seas are 5 to 8 ft prevail in the south central Caribbean, 4 to 7 ft over the eastern portion and 2 to 4 ft in the northwest Caribbean. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are observed in the SW Caribbean along the monsoon trough. For the forecast, surface ridging over the western Atlantic will continue to support moderate to fresh trade winds across the east and central Caribbean through mid week, with fresh to strong winds pulsing off Venezuela and northwest Colombia. Winds and seas across the basin may increase through late week as the ridge strengthens and broad low pressure forms along Central America. Strongest winds expected to be over the northwest and south- central Caribbean Thu night through the remainder weekend. Looking ahead, a broad area of low pressure is expected to form over northern Central America by the end of the week. Winds and seas across the basin may increase through late week as this low forms and the ridge north of the area strengthens. Moist onshore flow may also promote heavy rainfall across northern Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula by late week. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A mid-level trough is moving over the western Atlantic, causing scattered showers over the central Bahamas and area between 60W and 75W. To the east, a 1024 mb high in the central Atlantic near 27N51W is causing gentle to moderate SE flow across the majority of the sub-tropical western Atlantic, where seas are 4 to 6 ft. In the eastern Atlantic, a cold front extends from 31N24W to 27N36W to 30N50W. Winds are gentle on both sides of the front, but 8-9 ft swell is observed behind the front. Moderate to fresh persist south of 20N, with 8-9 ft seas south of 12N between 47W and the Lesser Antilles. The remainder of the basin is dominated by light to gentle winds and 4-8 ft seas. For the forecast west of 55W, the surface ridge along 29N will shift east today ahead of a weak cold front approaching from the north. The front will move over the waters north of 28N between northeast Florida and 55W through late Wed. Weak ridging will build again over the region later in the week, supporting gentle to moderate winds through Sat night, except for moderate to fresh winds N of Hispaniola and the Great Bahama Bank Fri and Sat. $$ ERA