000 AXNT20 KNHC 031730 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 105 PM EST Fri Mar 3 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1700 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURE... ...Caribbean Gale Warning... Winds are forecast to become northeast to east 30 to 35 knots this evening with seas 10 to 15 feet within about 90 nm of the northwest coast of Colombia as the nocturnal pressure gradient tightens over the area. See the latest High Seas Forecast product under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The Monsoon Trough passes through the coast of Africa near 08N13W to 03N20W. The ITCZ continues from 03N20W to the equator at 29W to near the coast of South America at 03S43W. Scattered moderate to strong convection is located from 01S to 04N between 20W and 34W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends across the Florida Keys to 24N90W to the central Bay of Campeche. Strong northerly winds to 30 knots are located south of 22N west of the front. Broken to overcast low and middle level clouds with scattered showers were noted along and within 60 to 90 nm northwest of the front. Strong westerly winds aloft are located over the northern half of the gulf becoming moderate south of about 25N. CARIBBEAN SEA... Strong high pressure over the central and western Atlantic supports persistent fresh to strong trades over most of the Caribbean. Refer to the special feature section above for more details. Moderate westerly winds aloft cover most of the area with water vapor imagery showing strong subsidence. ...HISPANIOLA... Water vapor imagery depicts strong subsidence over the island with light westerly flow aloft. The latest visible satellite imagery shows only a few westward moving showers. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends through 32N67W to the Florida Keys. South of 29N west of the front winds are north to northeast 20 to 25 knots and seas less than 8 feet. Broken to overcast low and middle level clouds with scattered showers were noted along and within 90 to 120 nm northwest of the front. A 1033 mb high is centered near 34N37W with ridging to 26N65W and dominates the remainder of the western Atlantic and most of the central Atlantic. A weak cold front is located through 32N11W to 27N20W to 28N30W to 23N45W. A subtropical jet emerges over the southeast Caribbean near 12N63W and extends to 15N50W to 20N30W and then weakens in the vicinity of 27N15W. Broad ridging aloft covers the area south of the jet to the equator. A middle/upper level trough axis is located through 32N16W to 25N35W to 18N60W. A cyclonic circulation is forecast to develop near 26N25W. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ CAB