000 AXNT20 KNHC 020607 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 207 AM EDT SUN OCT 2 2016 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 32N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis. Based on 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0545 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Hurricane Matthew is centered near 13.8N 73.6W at 02/0300 UTC or about 295 nm south-southwest of Port Au Prince Haiti moving N-NW at 6 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 130 kt with gusts to 160 kt. Matthew is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Numerous strong convection is from 11N to 16N between 68W-75W. Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 15 to 25 inches over southern Haiti, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 40 inches. Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches over eastern Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. This rainfall will produce life- threatening flash floods and mud slides. See the latest NHC Intermediate Public Advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATCPAT4/WTNT34 KNHC and the full Forecast/Advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATCMAT4/WTNT24 KNHC for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave is in the central Atlantic extending from 09N to 21N with an associated 1012 mb low centered near 12N37W. Both the wave and the low has been moving at 10 kt over the past 24 hours. The wave is in a region of favorable deep layer wind shear from 9N to 15N. However, the CIRA LPW imagery show dry air pockets W of the wave axis and Meteosat enhanced imagery show Saharan dry air and dust in the wave environment, which is inhibiting deep convection at the time. Isolated showers are within 210 nm S semicircle of the low. A tropical wave is in the Atlantic NE of the Leeward Islands extending from 15N to 25N with axis near 57W, moving WNW at 15 kt over the past 24 hours. The wave is in a region of mainly unfavorable deep layer wind shear and dry air dominates its environment according to CIRA LPW imagery from surface to 850 mb. Isolated showers are within 120 nm E of its axis. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The Monsoon Trough extends from 17N16W to 12N30W to a 1012 mb low near 12N38W. Scattered moderate convection is from 12N to 16N between 23W and 34W, from 11N to 13N E of 18W and from 13N to 23N between 46W and 53W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A broad deep layered low centered over Michigan with troughing dipping southward to a base over the north-central Gulf continue to support a stationary front that extends across the norther to central Florida peninsula to 28N82W to 25N90W to 24N96W. Moisture inflow from the Caribbean and the SW N Atlantic water support scattered to isolated showers within 120 nm either side of the frontal boundary. Gentle to moderate E-NE flow dominates the basin, the strongest winds being N and S of the front. The front is expected to gradually become diffuse today Sunday and a weak ridge will set in Monday through Wednesday extending from the SE CONUS. CARIBBEAN SEA... The main concern in the basin continues to be major Hurricane Matthew located in the south-central Caribbean. See the special features section for details. A short-wave upper level trough extends from the SE Gulf of Mexico to a base over Honduras. To the east, a broad upper level ridge covers the remainder Caribbean and generates diffluent flow in the NW basin to support isolated showers and tstms off the southern Cuba coast and within 120 nm off the Honduras coast. Otherwise, as Matthew tracks N-NW across the central Caribbean through early Tuesday, the trades will continue to be disrupted. Trades will begin to re-establish from east to west Wednesday through early next weekend. The next tropical wave will move into the E Caribbean Sunday and will be absorbed by Matthew Monday. ...HISPANIOLA... High level cloudiness associated with Hurricane Matthew in the south-central Caribbean continue to cover the Island. The GOES QPE imagery show accumulations of 1 inch of rain over central and southern Dominican Republic during the last 6 hours. The center of Matthew is expected to pass through SW Haiti Monday night then northward through the Windward Passage and E Cuba. Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 15 to 25 inches over southern Haiti, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 40 inches. Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches over the Dominican Republic with possible isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. See special features for further details. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Scattered showers prevail in the SW North Atlc west of 72W ahead of a stationary front across Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The remainder of the Atlc is under the influence of a surface ridge anchored by a 1019 mb high NE of the forecast waters. Hurricane Matthew will move into the SW North Atlc by early Tuesday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ RAMOS