000 AXNT20 KNHC 070006 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Tue Dec 6 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2350 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Central Atlantic Storm Warning: A large area of low pressure located over the central subtropical Atlantic about 800 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, centered near 26N53W and with a minimum central pressure of 999 mb, continues to produce a broad area of showers and thunderstorms in the northern semicircle of the low. Environmental conditions appear marginally conducive for development and a subtropical or tropical storm could form in the next couple of days. By Thursday night or Friday, the low will move northeastward over cooler waters and interact with a mid- latitude trough, limiting subtropical or tropical development of the system. Regardless of subtropical or tropical development, gale force winds are already occurring with this feature. The area of 35 to 40 kt winds exists mainly in the W semicircle of the low and the NE quadrant between 46W and 57W. Strong to near gale force winds are N of 21N between 41W and 63W. Winds in the N semicircle will increase through tonight and reach storm force Wed. Winds will then diminish slightly with gales continuing Wed night through Thu night. Peak seas are 22 ft, with a broad area of 12 ft or higher seas N of 22N between 43W and 64W. The radius of hazardous seas will continue to expand over the next few days, with waves reaching as high as 30 ft to the N and W of the center Wed and Wed night. More information about this system, including storm warnings, can be found in High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal plains of Guinea near 10N14W to 08N16W. The ITCZ continues from 08N16W to 05N22W to 06N40W to 07N45W. Scattered moderate convection is south of the monsoon trough and ITCZ axis from 00N to 07N between 12W and 38W. Scattered moderate convection is also noted from 04N to 08N between 40W and 48W. GULF OF MEXICO... A 1023 mb surface high pressure centered south of the Florida Big Bend is dominating the Gulf of Mexico, precluding any convection. With this feature in place, light to gentle variable winds are across the NE basin while moderate to locally fresh E to SE winds dominte elsewhere along with 3-5 ft seas. For the forecast, high pressure centered across the NE Gulf will meander about the NE Gulf and North Florida through Fri night. Moderate to fresh return flow will prevail W of 92W through Wed night then diminish through Sat. CARIBBEAN SEA... The pressure gradient between high pressure over Florida and lower pressure in the southern and eastern Caribbean is allowing for fresh to strong NE winds offshore Colombia, in the Windward Passage, south of Hispaniola and in the lee of southern Cuba and the Cayman Islands, where seas are 5 to 7 ft. Moderate to fresh winds cover the remainder of the western, southwestern, and central Caribbean, where seas are mainly 4 to 6 ft. Winds are mainly moderate and northerly in the eastern basin. Seas in the east are 3 to 5 ft, except 5 to 7 ft in and near Atlantic passages, due to long period northerly swell. For the forecast, deepening low pressure across the central Atlantic during the next few days will maintain NE winds across much of the basin, and fresh to locally strong NE winds through the Caribbean Passages, in the lee of Cuba, and offshore Colombia through Thu night. Large NE swell across the central Atlantic will move through the Caribbean Passages and Tropical Atlantic waters through the weekend, with highest seas early Thu through Fri evening. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the Special Features section above for details on a gale-producing low pressure SE of Bermuda that has a potential for tropical or subtropical development over the next 48 hours. Storm force winds are expected with this low over portions of the waters starting Wed, regardless of tropical or subtropical development. The powerful and strengthening low pressure is dominating weather across much of the basin. The pressure gradient between this system and high pressure over the eastern U.S. is allowing for fresh to strong N winds north of 21N between 58W and 70W where seas are 8 to 15 ft. Mainly moderate NE to E winds are elsewhere in the SW N Atlantic waters. A cold front extends from 30N21W to 26N29W where it stalls and continues W to just N of the area of low pressure near 27N53W. For the forecast for areas W of 55W, the complex area of low pressure is expected to move NE and out of the regional waters Fri. Large long-period north to northeast swell will impact the Atlantic waters and Caribbean Passages between the southeastern Bahamas and the E Caribbean producing high seas throughout the week, with large E swell reaching the Florida offshore waters N of 26N early Fri through Sat. $$ Ramos