000 AXNT20 KNHC 012355 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Fri Feb 2 2024 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... Atlantic Gale Warning: A cold front extends from a low pressure just west of Bermuda from 29N61W SW to 23N65W to Haiti adjacent waters. Scattered moderate convection continues to affect the region N of 26N from the front to 50W. Ongoing near gale to gale- force W to NW winds behind and ahead of the front will continue to affect the offshore zones N of 24N through Fri as the front continues an eastward track. Seas currently 12 to 14 ft will increase to up to 20 ft tonight into Fri. Winds will fall below gale-force Fri night, with gradually decreasing winds and diminishing seas into Sat. Please, read the latest High Seas Forecasts, that are issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the website, https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic waters near 10N14W to 09N16W. The ITCZ continues from 09N16W to 05N30W to 02N48W. Scattered moderate convection is observed from 04N to 13N between 13W and 22W. ...GULF OF MEXICO... A surface ridge anchored by a pair of high pressure centers, one in Alabama and another over northern Florida, covers the basin. This is leading to light to gentle variable winds E of 94W while gentle to moderate SE are ongoing over the far western Gulf. Seas remain slight basin-wide. For the forecast, high pressure over the region will shift E on Fri. Fresh to strong southeast to south winds and scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop over the western Gulf Fri night, then shift eastward into Sun, in advance of a cold front. By Sun night, this cold front is expected to move E of the Gulf, with strong to possible gale-force W to NW winds along with rough seas expanding across much of the basin Mon through Mon night. Gale force winds are possible in the NE Gulf Sat night. Winds and seas subside Tue and Tue night as high pressure builds over the area. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Surface ridging extending from the Gulf of Mexico into the NW Caribbean is generating a tight pressure gradient in portions of the W and SW basin. This is supporting moderate to fresh N winds between 73W and 83W along with 3-6 ft seas. Gentle to moderate NE to E winds and slight seas prevail elsewhere. For the forecast, the pressure gradient across the central Caribbean will force fresh to locally strong northeast winds offshore Colombia tonight. Elsewhere, winds and seas are forecast to be relatively low through Sat. A cold front is forecast to enter the NW Caribbean Sun evening, preceded by fresh southerly winds to the W of 75W. Behind the front, strong to near gale force westerly winds will build across the Yucatan Channel and the extreme NW Caribbean Mon and Mon night. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please refer to the Special Features section above for details on an ongoing Gale warning in effect for portions of the SW N Atlantic waters through Fri. A surface trough is analyzed from 31N46W to 19N57W to near Puerto Rico and the northernmost Leeward Islands, with an attendant 1015 mb low along the trough axis near 26N48W. Ahead of the trough, north of 26N and east to 35W, scattered moderate convection is ongoing along with moderate to fresh S winds and moderate seas north of 22N. Behind the trough, scattered weak convection is observed north of 24N to 58W. Light to gentle SW winds increase to moderate westward of the trough axis to 57W and fresh to strong to 60W. Moderate to rough seas are noted in this area. Elsewhere east of 60W, moderate to locally strong trades and moderate to rough seas are prevalent south of 22N and gentle E winds and moderate seas north of 22N. The waters west of 60W are dominated by the low pressure and cold front that are detailed in the Special Features section. Outside of gale conditions, fresh to strong cyclonic winds dominate the waters north of 20N, west to 78W, with the remaining waters mainly in moderate to fresh winds. Seas are moderate to rough across this area. For the forecast W of 55W, low pressure S of Bermuda will strengthen as it moves ESE along and just N of 31N through Fri, before lifting NE away from area waters. Strong to gale force cyclonic winds and rough to very rough seas will accompany this broad low pressure for waters north of 24N into Fri. Another cold front will move southeastward across northern waters Fri night into Sat night, bringing fresh to strong west winds on both sides of the front north of 28N into Sun. Low pressure and a new frontal system will move across the northwest waters Mon through Tue night. Strong to near gale force winds will be possible with this system. $$ Ramos