000 AXNT20 KNHC 131003 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1205 UTC Tue Feb 13 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1000 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Atlantic Gale Warning: SW winds are reaching minimal gale force near 31N between 77W and 80W off northeast Florida. This is ahead of a cold front appraoching the area from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Seas are 8 to 10 ft. The gale-force winds will shift eastward as far east as 65W through this afternoon before diminishing below gale-force late today. Seas are expected to build during this time and peak at 12-16 ft in mixed SW and W swell by this afternoon. 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 Atlantic Ocean through the coast of Sierra Leone near 08N13W and continues southwestward to 04N21W. The ITCZ extends from 04N21W to 04N33W and to 04N45W. A few showers are observed near the ITCZ between 23W and 29W. GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front from reaches from near Cedar Key, Florida to the central Yucatan Channel. Fresh to strong NW winds follow the front over the northeast Gulf, along with rough seas following the front from the northeast to southwest Gulf. Winds and seas are starting to diminish over the northwest Gulf. For the forecast, the aforementioned cold front will shift southeast of the basin this morning. Fresh to strong winds and rough seas follow the front. Winds and seas will diminish through tonight as high pressure builds from west to east over the northern Gulf coast in the wake of the front. Fresh winds will pulse off the west coast of Yucatan Thu and Fri as a trough develops there in the evenings. Moist E to SE flow will support areas of fog Thu and Fri as well. Looking ahead, low pressure will develop over the northwest Gulf late Fri ahead of a cold front will move off the Texas coast late early Sat. Strong winds and rough seas will follow the front as it reaches from central Florida to the far southwest Gulf by late Sat. Winds to gale-force are possible over the west-central and southwest Gulf late Sat and Sat night. CARIBBEAN SEA... A broad subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic extends southwestward into the Caribbean Sea. The pressure gradient between the 1023 mb high pressure system and lower pressures in northern South America result in strong to near gale-force easterly trade winds in the south-central Caribbean. Seas in these waters are 6-9 ft, with the highest seas occurring off NW Colombia. Fresh to locally strong easterly winds and seas of 4-7 ft are evident in the north-central and SE Caribbean. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. No deep convection is noted across the basin. For the forecast, a cold front currently moving through the Gulf of Mexico will enter the Yucatan Channel overnight then start to stall and dissipate from eastern Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras by mid week. Large northerly swell will continue to move into the northeast Caribbean via Atlantic passages into tonight. Looking ahead, high pressure building in the wake of the front will support a new round of fresh to strong trade winds across mainly the central Caribbean by mid week, possibly reaching gale force off Colombia at night Wed through Fri. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the Special Features section for details on the gales-force winds off northeast Florida. The subtropical ridge extends along roughly 25N and west of 25W, anchored by 1023 mb high pressure system centered near 25N58W. Moderate to locally strong westerly winds are found north of 27N and between 35W and 60W. Seas in these waters are 8-12 ft, with the highest seas occurring near 31N43W. Moderate to locally fresh easterly trade winds persist south of 19N and west of 35W. Seas in the area described are 6-9 ft. Farther east, a weak stationary front extends from 31N27W to 21N36W. No deep convection is noted near this boundary. In the far NE Atlantic, a moderate pressure gradient support moderate to fresh NE winds north of 24N and east of 20W. Seas in these waters are 5-8 ft. Elsewhere outside of the gales area, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. For the forecast, 1023 mb high pressure centered near 25N58W will continue to shift eastward over the next couple of days, ahead of a cold front that will move off the northeast Florida coast late tonight into early Tue morning. The front will reach from E of Bermuda near 31N59W to central Cuba by Wed morning, and from 31N50W to eastern Cuba by Thu morning, before starting to stall and dissipate from 24N55W to the Mona Passage by late Thu. Strong to gale force winds and rough seas are expected on either side of the front tonight and Tue, mainly N of 30N between 65W and 80W. $$ Christensen