000 AXNT20 KNHC 052340 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 640 PM EST Sun Feb 5 2017 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2300 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Strong E-NE winds in the south-central Caribbean near the coast of Colombia are expected to reach minimal gale force tonight around 0300 UTC...and continue until 1200 UTC Monday morning. Winds are forecast to once again reach gale force Monday night into Tuesday morning. See the latest NWS High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The Intertropical Convergence Zone extends from the African coast near 06N11W to 03N16W to 00N38W to the South American coast near 03S44W. Scattered moderate convection is within 60 nm north and 180 nm south of the ITCZ axis between 19W and 40W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... High pressure centered near the panhandle of Florida dominates the region, and gentle to moderate anticyclonic wind flow prevails over the entire basin. Little or no convection is evident from satellite imagery. Expect little change through Wednesday. CARIBBEAN SEA... A gale warning is in effect overnight near the northern coast of Colombia, see special features section above. 15-25 kt trade winds prevail elsewhere over most of the Caribbean, with scatterometer data showing highest winds between 68W and 78W. Scattered showers associated with a wave in the trade wind flow is moving across Belize and Guatemala. Isolated trade wind showers are moving through the Windward Islands. Zonal flow aloft and strong subsidence covers the region, and little change is expected through Tuesday. ...HISPANIOLA... Scattered showers mainly due to daytime heating effects are over the eastern Dominican Republic. Mostly fair weather prevails over the remainder of the island. Some trade wind showers may move from the Atlantic across the island during the next 24 hours. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A surface trough trailing from a cold moving eastward north of the area extends from 31N78w to Palm Beach Florida. Scattered showers are within 60-90 nm east of the trough axis. The associated cold front will move north of the area into the central Atlantic through Monday night. A broad ridge of high pressure dominates most of the eastern Atlantic. A cold front stretches from the central Atlantic near 33N40W to east of the Bahamas near 24N67W. Scattered showers are within 90-120 nm east of the front. The front will become nearly stationary and weaken overnight. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa