000 AXNT20 KNHC 041743 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Tue Jul 4 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1700 UTC. ...TROPICAL WAVES... An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is located along 23W from S of the Cabo Verde Islands to 03N, moving W at 10 to 15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is seen from 07N to 12N E of the wave axis. A central Atlantic tropical wave is located along 40W from 17N southward, moving W at 10 to 15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is seen from 04N to 08N mainly E of the wave axis. A vigorous tropical wave is located just S of Puerto Rico and extends into Venezuela, moving west at 10 to 15 kt. This wave is producing scattered moderate convection across Puerto Rico and the offshore waters in the eastern Carribbean and seas up to 8 ft. Recent scatterometer imagery shows fresh to strong winds S of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. A western Caribbean tropical wave is currently transitioning into the eastern Pacific Ocean. This wave is located along 87W from 19N into Honduras and Nicaragua. This wave is moving W at around 15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is noted N of Panama and offshore Costa Rica and Nicaragua. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic along the Senegal coast south of Dakar and extends southwestward to near 12N22W. Convection in the vicinity of this trough is mainly associated with the tropical wave described in the section above. An ITCZ continues from 11N24W to near 07N39W, then resumes westward from 06N41W to 04N51W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within about 60 nm on both sides of the last ITCZ segment. The eastern end of the East Pacific monsoon trough near 11N is causing scattered moderate convection in the Caribbean waters near northwestern Colombia. ...GULF OF MEXICO... A surface trough is producing scattered moderate to isolated strong convection in the Bay of Campeche. Otherwise, 1018 mb high pressure center offshore the Florida Panhandle is dominating much of the basin, with the ridging leading to light to gentle anticyclonic winds and seas of less than 2 ft in the eastern Gulf and Florida Straits. For the western Gulf, outside of convection, gentle to moderate mainly SE to S winds and seas of 2 to 4 ft prevail. For the forecast, weak surface ridging will prevail into late week, supporting mainly gentle to moderate return flow W of 90W and light to gentle winds over the eastern half of the basin. Moderate to locally fresh winds will pulse nightly north and west of the Yucatan peninsula through Wed as a diurnal trough develops and moves offshore. Expect scattered thunderstorms across the southwest Gulf through Wed. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Please see the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ and Tropical Waves sections above for convection and seas in the Caribbean. For the remainder of the basin, mainly moderate trades prevail, with seas of 3 to 6 ft. The exceptions are S of 10N in the SW basin and in the Lee of Cuba, where winds are gentle and seas are 2 to 4 ft. For the forecast, fresh to strong winds will prevail in the central and eastern Caribbean through Wed night with and behind a tropical wave that is moving west of the Lesser Antilles today. Expect squalls and scattered thunderstorms to accompany this tropical wave through tonight. Gentle to moderate trade winds will prevail elsewhere during the forecast period, while fresh to strong trades persist across south central portions. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... A Sahara Dust Layer (SAL) outbreak of modest thickness covers much of the tropical Atlantic with its leading edge east of Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles. Hence, the lack of tropical wave activity in the central Atlantic. Hazy conditions with slightly reduced visibilities are expected within this area for the next couple of days. An upper level trough extends NE from the Dominican Republic to E of Bermuda. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is seen in association with this feature as it interacts with the tropical wave in the vicinity, from 19N to 23N between 65W and 70W. Two weak surface troughs are located in the northwest Bahamas and north of northeast Bahamas. Each of these troughs are producing scattered showers and thunderstorms. For additional areas of convection in the Atlantic Ocean, please refer to the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ and Tropical Waves sections above. High pressure of 1023 mb centered E of Bermuda is dominating much of the subtropical Atlantic. This is leading to light to gentle winds for all areas N of 23N, except in the far eastern Atlantic where moderate to locally fresh winds are occurring in and near the Canary Islands. Seas for areas N of 23N are 3 to 4 ft, with 2 ft or less seas occurring in and near the Bahamas, Cuba, and Florida. To the S of 23N and W of 30W, fresh trades and seas of 5 to 8 ft dominate, while areas to the E, including waters near the Cabo Verde Islands, having gentle to moderate mainly NE winds. For the forecast west of 55W, a weak Bermuda High will maintain a weak pressure gradient and lead to light gentle winds across most of the area into late week. S of 22N, moderate to fresh winds will prevail into Thu night, occurring with and behind a tropical wave moving through the Caribbean. $$ KRV