000 AXNT20 KNHC 091726 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Fri Feb 9 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1700 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Atlantic Significant Swell Event: Seas generated by a strong extratropical cyclone, with hurricane force winds, located over the central Atlantic, well N of the forecast area, continue to propagate across the forecast waters mainly N of 26N between 50W and 66W. A recent altimeter pass indicates seas of 12 to 13 ft near 65W. Seas 8 ft or greater dominate a large area N of a line from 30N35W to 25N50W to 19N64W to 22N72W to 25N75W to 31N72W. This swell event will gradually shift eastward during the weekend covering most of the waters N of 27N and E of 62W by Sat morning, and N of 26N E of 55W by Sun morning. Seas are forecast to subside below 12 ft across the waters W of 35W by Sun nigh. However, rough seas in the 8 to 11 ft range, will continue to affecting most of the waters N of 15N and E of 60W Sun night into Mon. Mariners are urged exercise caution over the next few days across the central atlantic, as this swell event will maintain hazardous marine conditions. Caribbean Sea Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between the Colombian low and high pressure building over the western Atlantic will support pulsing minimal gale force winds and rough seas off Colombia tonight, and again Sat night. Conditions will begin to improve by Sun morning. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the eastern Atlantic through the coast of Liberia near 06.5N11W then continues westward to near 06N22W. The ITCZ extends from 06N22W to 02N35W to 02N50W. No significant convection is noted at this time. GULF OF MEXICO... A ridge extends from the western Atlantic across Florida into the Gulf of Mexico. Under the influence of the ridge, moderate to fresh southerly return flow prevails over most of the Gulf waters, with the exception of light to gentle winds over the far NE part of the Gulf. Seas are generally 4 to 6 ft, except 1 to 3 ft over the E Gulf N of the Florida Keys. Patches of low level moisture are noted moving northward under the SE to S wind flow. These low clouds are more concentrated over the Yucatan Channel and the northern Yucatan Peninsula. For the forecast, moderate to fresh return flow is expected across the Gulf basin through early Sun as high pressure along the eastern seaboard shifts E into the Atlc. Patchy fog is possible over the far northwest and west-central Gulf by late Sat, ahead of a cold front expected to move off the Texas coast late Sun. Behind the front, NW winds will briefly increase to gale-force W of 95W on Mon. The front is expected to reach from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Veracruz on Mon morning and move SE of the Gulf basin late Tue. CARIBBEAN SEA... A Gale Warning in effect for the SW Caribbean near the coast of Colombia. Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section for more details. A cold front is over the NE Caribbean, and extends through the central Leewards Islands to near 16N68W. Seas of 8 ft are just N of the Leeward Islands based on altimeter data. Recent satellite derived wind data indicate moderate to fresh N winds in the wake of the front across the waters S of Puerto Rico. Winds increase to fresh to strong speeds S of Dominican Republic to about 14N. Seas are 7 to 8 ft within these winds. Fresh to locally strong NE to E winds are observed in the lee of Cuba, and between eastern Cuba and Jamaica. Abundant stratocumulus clouds are noted on satellite imagery over the NW Caribbean. A broken band of low clouds with possible light showers is associated with the front. The southern of a pre-frontal trough extends to near Barbados where some shower activity has been reported. For the forecast, the aforementioned cold front will move SE and dissipate through tonight. Large northerly swell will impact Atlantic passages of the NE Caribbean today then gradually become NE over the weekend before subsiding Mon. High pressure will prevail across the western Atlantic and move slowly E-SE through Mon. This will produce fresh to strong trade winds and building seas over the south-central Caribbean by tonight, reaching gale- force off Colombia tonight and then pulse to gale-force again Sat night. Fresh to strong SE winds will develop across the Gulf of Honduras Sat night and gradually spread through the Yucatan Channel Sun and Mon as the Atlantic high shifts SE into the central Atlantic and a cold front moves across the western Gulf of Mexico. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information about the ongoing Significant Swell event in Atlantic Ocean. A cold front enters the forecast region near 31N47W then continues SW crossing the Leeward Islands. Fresh to strong winds follow the front, particularly N of 25N and E of 65W. Rough to very rough seas in excess of 12 ft are also seen behind the front. A pre- frontal trough extends from 20N52W to near Barbados in the Windward Islands. The trough is very well defined on scatterometer data. High pressure of 1025 mb located E of Florida near 29N76W dominates the western Atlantic, and extends a ridge into the Gulf of Mexico and western Cuba. Elsewhere across the Atlantic, a 1020 mb high pressure is centered near 25N30W and dominates the remainder of the forecast area. Gentle to moderate trade winds and seas of 4 to 6 ft prevail across the tropical Atlantic. Sea heights increase to 6 to 8 ft NE of the Leeward Islands due to the swell event mentioned above. For the forecast west of 55W, fresh to strong NW winds will prevail today across the west Atlantic N of 25N and E of 65W behind a frontal boundary currently extending from 23N55W SW through the central Leeward Islands. Rough to very rough seas in excess of 12 ft will continue N of 26N and E of 66W through tonight. Winds will diminish from west to east through Sun as the front moves SE and weakens, and high pressure currently along the E coast of the U.S. slides E-SE along 27N-28N and into the area waters. Strong S to SW winds will develop across offshore the N Florida waters ahead of the next cold front on Mon. The front is expected to exit the SE U.S. and N Florida Tue morning and reach from near Bermuda to the NW Bahamas by Tue evening. $$ GR