000 AXNT20 KNHC 081037 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1205 UTC Tue Aug 8 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1020 UTC. ...TROPICAL WAVES... An eastern Atlantic tropical wave has its axis along 28W, south of 16N, moving westward at 10 kt. No deep convection is noted near the wave axis. A central Atlantic tropical wave has its axis along 47W, south of 17N, moving westward at 10 kt. Scattered moderate convection is observed from 05N to 09N and between 47W and 51W. A tropical wave is near the Lesser Antilles, with its axis along 61W, south of 21N, moving westward at 10-15 kt. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted from 16N to 22N between 58W and 63W. A central Caribbean tropical wave has its axis along 78W, south of 20N, moving westward at 15 kt. Numerous moderate to scattered strong convection is noted near the monsoon trough and the wave axis, S of 11N between 76W and 80W. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic Ocean through the coast of The Gambia near 11N16W to 10N39W. The ITCZ continues from 10N39W to 11N57W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted mostly along the ITCZ from 07N to 14N between 36W and 57W. Scattered moderate convection is moving off the coast of Africa from 06N to 13N and E of 21W. GULF OF MEXICO... The subtropical ridge extends westward into the Gulf of Mexico, anchored by a 1019 mb high pressure system located near 27N86W. A trough extends in the eastern Bay of Campeche with some scattered showers noted around it. The weak pressure gradient promotes primarily moderate or weaker anticyclonic winds. Seas of 3-4 ft are noted west of 90W and 1-2 ft elsewhere. For the forecast, relatively weak high pressure over the area will support gentle to moderate winds over most of the basin during the next several days. Moderate return flow across the western Gulf will become moderate to fresh by Wed, continuing through most of the week. A thermal trough will move off the Yucatan Peninsula each night, producing moderate to fresh winds to the northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula through most of the week. CARIBBEAN SEA... Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms continue across the nearshore waters of southern Cuba and Hispaniola. Scattered thunderstorms are also noted in the NW Caribbean. Elsewhere, a generally dry airmass suppresses the development of deep convection. The pressure gradient between the ridge north of the islands and lower pressures in northern South America support fresh to locally strong easterly trade winds in the central Caribbean, along with seas of 5-8 ft. The strongest winds are seen on earlier scatterometer satellite data in the Gulf of Venezuela. Moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate seas prevail in the rest of the basin. For the forecast, fresh to locally strong trade winds will prevail over the central Caribbean. Meanwhile, moderate to fresh trades are expected over the eastern basin, with gentle to moderate trades are expected in the western basin. Winds across the Caribbean will diminish slightly tonight into Wed night. A tropical wave will move into the eastern and central Caribbean Thu into Fri, bringing fresh to locally strong winds and moderate seas. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1024 mb subtropical ridge positioned near 28N50W dominates the tropical Atlantic, maintaining fairly tranquil weather conditions outside of the deep tropics. There are a few exceptions, including divergence aloft producing a few showers north of 29N and between 63W and 69W. Similar activity is noted in the Straits of Florida. Scattered moderate convection is also seen south of 22N between 63W and 70W in association with the tropical wave in the area as mentioned in the Tropical Waves section. These storms are impacting north of Hispaniola. Moderate to locally fresh easterly trade winds due to the pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the tropics are found south of 26N and west of 37W. Seas in these waters are 5-7 ft. Moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail elsewhere. For the forecast W of 55W, the subtropical ridge axis will continue to be situated along 28N through much of the week. Fresh E trade winds S of 25N and E of 75W will diminish to mostly moderate speeds tonight through Wed. Seas generated by these winds will gradually subside this morning. Winds off the N coast of Hispaniola will pulse moderate to locally fresh today through Thu. Later in the week, the northern portion of a tropical wave is expected to move across the southeastern waters. This will increase winds fresh to locally strong across the region Thu through Sat, including the Bahamas. $$ AReinhart