000
AXNT20 KNHC 291802
TWDAT 

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1805 UTC Fri Mar 29 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 
1745 UTC.

...SPECIAL FEATURES...

Central and Eastern Atlantic Significant Swell Event: Broad low 
pressure of 1009 mb is centered near 26N57W. Broad and 
persistent high pressure is present to its northeast and east. A 
very tight pressure gradient between the low and the high 
pressure has been sustaining a large fetch of fresh to strong 
southeast winds for the past several days. This synoptic set up 
has resulted in seas of 10 to 15 ft over the waters from 22N to 
31N between 33W and a line from 31N61W to 22N50W with period 10-
17 sec. A recent altimeter satellite data pass indicated these 
seas. In the eastern Atlantic, a weakening cold front that 
extends from northern Africa southwestward to 23N20W and 
northwestward to near 25N33W. Significant north swell producing 
seas of 11 to 17 ft is north of the front east of 35W with 
period of 10-15 sec. The swell will gradually decay through Sat 
as the swell groups migrate south-southeastward.

Please, read the latest High Seas Forecast at 
www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more information.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

The monsoon trough axis extends through the coastal plains of 
Sierra Leone near 08N13W southwestward to 01N19W, where latest 
scatterometer data indicates that it transitions to the ITCZ and 
continues to 02S26W and to near 02S43W. Numerous clusters of 
strong convection are emerging off the coast of Africa south of 
the trough to near 01S and east of 17W. Scattered moderate to 
isolated strong convection is northwest of the ITCZ from along 
and near the equator west of 37W to inland the coast of 
northeast Brazil and north to near 07N. 

...GULF OF MEXICO...

High pressure of 1025 mb analyzed over the northeast part of 
Alabama has a ridge that extends southwestward to the central 
and NW Gulf waters. The gradient between the ridge and a cold
front that is southeast of the Gulf is allowing for fresh
northeast winds to be over the southeastern Gulf. Winds elsewhere
are gentle to moderate, northeast to east in direction over the
central Gulf and fresh, southeast in direction, over the NW Gulf.
Seas are in the range 3 to 6 ft, except for higher seas of 5 to 7
ft over the central Gulf and 6 to 8 ft seas over the southeastern
Gulf.

Satellite imagery shows no convection throughout the basin, 
instead mostly clear skies prevail under the high pressure that 
is in place.

For the forecast, the aforementioned high pressure will shift
eastward this weekend, with its associated gradient interacting 
with deepening low pressure in the southern Plains. This synoptic
set up is expected to bring fresh east to southeast winds across 
the western Gulf Sat through Mon. Another cold front may enter the
western Gulf by Tue increasing winds and seas west of the front. 

...CARIBBEAN SEA...

A dissipating cold front stretches from eastern Cuba to the 
northeast part of Honduras. Fresh to strong northeast winds are 
behind the front along with seas of 6 to 8 ft. Satellite imagery 
shows scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms within 90 nm 
west of the front from 16N to 18N. Isolated showers are elsewhere 
within 180 nm west of the front from 16N to 19N. With the front 
moving across the western Atlantic, this has caused the pressure
gradient to weaken over the remainder of the basin. The tail-end
of a central Atlantic trough reaches to near the northern Leeward
Islands while another central Atlantic trough reaches to near the
northern Windward Islands. Winds east of the front are northerly,
light to gentle in speeds, except east of 65W they are mostly 
light, west to northwest in direction. North swell that has been 
impacting the Caribbean Passages continues to produce seas to 
around 5 or 6 ft in the eastern Caribbean through the weekend.
Seas elsewhere east of the front are about 3 ft or less.

For the forecast, the fresh to strong winds behind the front will 
follow the front across the remainder of the western Caribbean 
today. Winds and seas will diminish this afternoon. High pressure 
building north of the region in the wake of the front will support
fresh to strong northeast winds in the lee of eastern Cuba and 
across the Windward Passage tonight through Sat evening. Winds and
seas will then diminish by Sat evening. Moderate north swell that
is propagating through the northeast Caribbean Passages and 
adjacent Tropical Atlantic waters will subside through early on 
Sat. Strong trade winds and rough seas will pulse off the coast of
Colombia and the southern coast of Hispaniola this weekend as the
high pressure settles to the northeast of the Bahamas. 

...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

Please read the Special Features section for information on a 
Significant Swell event that is impacting sections of the central
and eastern Atlantic.

A cold front is analyzed from near 31N67W to 26N71W and to 
eastern Cuba. A recent ASCAT satellite data pass reveals fresh 
to strong northwest to north winds west of the front north of 
27N, and fresh north to northeast winds west of the front south 
of 27N. Seas behind the front are 9 to 14 ft in northwest to 
north of 27N and 8 to 12 ft in north to northeast swell south of 
27N. To the southeast of the front, broad low pressure of 1009 
mb is near 26N57W, with a trough extending northwest from it to 
31N60W, and another trough extending from the low to 22N56W and 
southwestward to the northern Leeward Islands. A trough is to 
the east of these features from 31N54W to 20N55W and 
southwestward to the northern Windward Islands. Gentle to 
moderate west to northwest winds are between the troughs 
connected to the low pressure and the aforementioned cold front. 
Seas over these waters are 6 to 8 ft in northeast to east swell. 
Recent ASCAT satellite data passes indicate fresh to strong 
southeast winds north of 20N between 46W-52W. Within this area 
of fresh to strong winds, the ASCAT data has near gale southeast 
to south winds from 22N to 26N between 48W and 51W, and also 
from 23N to 26N between 41W and 48W. Seas as described above 
under Special Features.

A broad area of rather persistent high pressure continues to be 
the main feature controlling the wind pattern regime over the 
eastern Atlantic and the eastern part of the central Atlantic 
areas. The high pressure is anchored by a 1027 mb center that is 
north of the area near 34N40W. Latest ASCAT satellite data passes
reveal mostly fresh trade winds from 03N to 22N between 20W and 
41W. Seas over these waters are in the range of 6 to 8 ft. S of 
03N and east of 46W, trade winds are light to gentle in speeds 
with seas of 5 to 7 ft.
 
For the forecast W of 55W, broad low pressure located to the 
southeast of Bermuda near 26N57W will meander then weaken to a 
trough this afternoon while it slowly moves east of 55W tonight. 
Farther west, a cold front extends from near 31N67W to 26N71W and 
to eastern Cuba will reach from near 31N55W to the Mona Passage by
Sat morning, then move east of the area early Sun. Strong winds 
and rough seas will follow this front. Winds and seas will 
decrease from west to east this weekend as high pressure builds 
eastward in the wake of the front. 

$$
Aguirre