000 AXNT20 KNHC 260005 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 705 PM EST Sat Feb 25 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 2315 UTC. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The Monsoon Trough passes through the coastal areas of Guinea near 10N14W to 03N16W. The ITCZ continues from 03N16W, curving to the Equator along 25W and passing through 01N35W to 02N50W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection was noted within 90-120 NM N of the ITCZ between 31W and 50W. ...DISCUSSION... ...THE GULF OF MEXICO... A flat mid-to upper level trough is moving across the eastern United States and extends into the northern Gulf with generally westerly flow aloft. The flow was suppressing a ridge over the southern Gulf. Moderate to strong subsidence was noted over the Gulf becoming more pronounced over the Bay of Campeche. This trough is supporting a weakening cold front which as of 2100 UTC extended from the Big Bend of Florida to 25N93W where it became a dissipating stationary front to 20N96W. A surface trough was located over the eastern Bay of Campeche extending from 22N95W southeast to 19N92W. Generally fair conditions prevailed over the Gulf with only scattered to locally broken low clouds in the vicinity of the cold front. Fresh N to NE winds of 15-20 KT were occurring behind the cold front generally W of 90W. Light and variable to westerly winds prevailed elsewhere. The cold front is expected to move SE through the Gulf tonight with high pressure building eastward across the southern U.S. Return SE flow begins over the Gulf W of 90W by Sun afternoon and spreads over most of the Gulf by early Mon. ...THE CARIBBEAN SEA... A fairly sharp mid-to-upper level trough passes through the Windward Passage, into the SW corner of the basin. Very strong subsidence was noted in the wake of the trough and elsewhere over the basin W of 65W. W weak surface ridge extended from 20N60W through the northern Leeward Islands to 15N75W. As of 2100 UTC a weak surface trough was analyzed from the Gulf of Honduras to 19N80W. This weak ridge maintained sub-normal trade winds over the basin, generally around 10 kt. Patches of broken to overcast low and mid clouds with widely scattered showers were noted in the vicinity of the surface trough and elsewhere across the Caribbean Sea east of 70W, and north from 14N between 70W and 76W. Trade winds should begin to increase on Sun as high pressure builds north of the area with strong winds likely within 90 Nm of the coast of Colombia Sun night into Mon. ...HISPANIOLA... Water vapor imagery indicated very dry air/strong subsidence over the entire island. This was confirmed by the 1200 UTC rawinsonde from Santo Domingo which showed a strong capping inversion at 623 MB. Despite the dry air, orographic lift was sufficient to trigger an isolated thunderstorm over northern Dominican Republic. Little change in overall conditions are anticipated through the remainder of the weekend. ...THE ATLANTIC OCEAN... A deep layer trough extends through 32N66W to the SE Bahamas, through the Windward Passage, into the SW corner of the Caribbean Sea. The waning influence of this trough is providing limited support to a surface trough from 31N65W to 25N72W and a dissipating stationary front from 31N62W to 24N65W. Broken to overcast low and mid clouds with embedded showers were noted within 45-50 NM either side of the surface trough and within 180 NM east of the stationary front N of 26N. Further east, an upper level trough extends through 32N27W to 25N35W to 19N45W. Broad upper level cyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean elsewhere N of 18N and east of 30W. A stationary front extends through 32N37W to 27N45W to 22N55W. Broken to overcast low clouds with embedded showers are possible within 240 NM northwest of the front N of 25N. A surface ridge extends from a 1030 mb high pressure center near 37N41W, through 32N48W to 25N58W. Further east, another surface ridge extends from a 1028 mb high pressure center near 34N24W, to 26N35W to 20N60W. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Cobb