000 AXNT20 KNHC 070437 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0605 UTC Tue Feb 7 2023 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0425 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Caribbean Sea GALE WARNING: The strong pressure gradient between the subtropical ridge north of the region and lower pressure NW South America will continue to support pulsing nighttime gale-force winds in the south- central Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Colombia through late week. Seas will peak near 13 ft during the strongest winds. Please, read the latest High Seas Forecast, at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, and the Offshore Waters Forecasts, at www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php, for more details. Atlantic Ocean SIGNIFICANT SEAS: A broad area of 12 to 14 ft seas are ongoing N of 20N between 35W and 55W due to NW swell of 12 to 15 seconds. These seas will gradually decay through Tue night, with seas falling below 12 ft by late Tue. However, large northerly swell generated by the hurricane-force low in the NW Atlantic is moving into our discussion waters. Seas will build to near 18 ft by Wed morning behind a cold front from 31N51W to the SE Bahamas. Seas will drop below 12 ft Thu. Please, read the latest High Seas Forecast, at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more information. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic through the coast of Guinea near 09N14W to 04N16W. The ITCZ extends from 0416W to 01N33W to 01N50W. Scattered moderate convection is observed within 120 nm on each side of the monsoon trough and ITCZ east of 45W. GULF OF MEXICO... High pressure over the NE United Stated extends southwestward to the Gulf of Mexico. A dry airmass dominates the basin, suppressing the development of deep convection. The pressure gradient is tightening in the western Gulf due to lower pressures over Mexico. Fresh to locally strong southerly winds west of 94W. Seas in these waters are 3-5 ft. Elsewhere in the basin, moderate or weaker anticyclonic winds and moderate seas prevail. For the forecast, ridging over the northern Gulf of Mexico will move eastward over the next few days. Southerly return flow will increase to fresh to locally strong tonight into early Tue over the western Gulf, with fresh winds spreading to the remainder of the Gulf Tue. Strong winds will also develop off NW Cuba and the NW Yucatan Tue night into early Wed. A cold front will enter the western Gulf on Wed with strong N winds likely behind it over the far west-central Gulf, and quickly diminishing as the front reaches the central Gulf early Thu, before stalling and weakening. A stronger cold front will enter the Gulf Thu evening, reach from the Florida Big Bend to Veracruz Fri morning, and exit the basin to the southeast by early Sat. Gale force NW to N winds are possible behind the front over the SW Gulf Fri into Fri night. CARIBBEAN SEA... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details about the GALE WARNING that is in effect for the coastal waters of Colombia. Pockets of shallow moisture riding the trade winds are producing isolated showers between SW Hispaniola and Honduras and in the SE Caribbean Sea. Generally dry weather is seen elsewhere in the basin. The strong pressure gradient between the ridge to the north of the islands and lower pressures in NW South America result in fresh to strong easterly winds over a large portion of the central, eastern Caribbean and the lee of Cuba. The strongest winds are occurring off NW Colombia that nightly pulse to gale force, as seen in the Special Features section. Seas outside of the Special Features area are in the 5-8 ft range, except for 2-5 ft in the NW Caribbean. For the forecast, the subtropical ridge north of the area will maintain a strong pressure gradient across the central Caribbean Sea through the week. Strong easterly winds will continue over the south-central Caribbean, pulsing to gale force off Colombia nightly through late this week. Seas will build to near 13 ft during the strongest winds. Winds will increase in the Windward Passage, lee of Cuba and Gulf of Honduras late Tue through late this week, pulsing to strong at night. Strong easterly winds will also pulse off southern Hispaniola and occasionally in the eastern Caribbean through the forecast period. Looking ahead, a cold front will approach the Yucatan Channel Fri night, with fresh to strong N winds coming into the NW Caribbean behind the front. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details about the hazardous seas occurring SE of Bermuda. A cold front extends from 31N62W to the central Bahamas. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is present ahead of the frontal boundary to 60W and north of 26N. A recent scatterometer satellite pass show fresh to near gale-force winds north of 28N and between 55W and 75W. Seas in these waters are 8-12 ft. Fresh easterly winds are also present in the water passages of the Bahamian archipelago and between the island group and the northern coast of Cuba and SE Florida. Seas in the waters described are 2-4 ft. The remainder of the basin is dominated by a strong 1014 mb high pressure system centered north of the Azores. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the deep tropics result in fresh to strong easterly trade winds over most of the central and eastern Atlantic. The strongest winds are prevalent south of 25N and east of 55W. Seas in these waters are 8-13 ft, with the highest seas occurring near 22N44W. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. For the forecast W of 55W, a cold front extends from near Bermuda to the SE Bahamas. Fresh to strong winds are on either side of the front, forecast to reach from 31N60W to the Turks and Caicos Islands by Tue morning, and from 31N50W to the SE Bahamas Wed morning. Strong wind speeds will continue north of 28N on both sides of the front through Tue night. Large swell will build in Wed behind the front and spread southward across the basin through late week. Fresh to strong trade winds are expected through the Bahamas, Straits of Florida and Windward Passage late Tue through Thu night. Looking ahead a cold front will move east of Florida Fri night with strong winds on both sides of the front. $$ DELGADO