000 AXNT20 KNHC 261725 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 124 PM EDT Sun Mar 26 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 1715 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...GALE-FORCE WINDS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1010 mb surface low is intensifying across the west Atlantic, centered near 22N67W. Surface ridging prevails to the north with axis along 32N. The pressure gradient between these features is producing gale-force winds from 25N-27N between 63W-69W. As the low moves northward, the gale winds will follow. Please read 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 06N10W to 04N17W. The ITCZ extends from 04N17W to 00N29W to 02S42W. Scattered moderate convection prevails within 50 nm on either side of the ITCZ. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A surface ridge extends across the basin, anchored over the west Atlantic by a 1027 mb high near 34N69W. With this, a gentle to moderate anticyclonic flow prevails across the basin with fair weather. Little change is expected through the next 24-48 hours. CARIBBEAN SEA... A 1010 mb surface low is centered over the west Atlantic north of La Mona Passage extending its trough south to 17N68W. No significant convection is related to this feature at this time. Scatterometer data depicts gentle to moderate trades across most of the basin except south of 13N between 74W-78W where moderate to fresh winds are noted. Expect for the trough to continue moving northward with the low away from the Caribbean. Fair weather will prevail across the basin. ...HISPANIOLA... Fair weather prevails across the island at this time as the surface low remains to the north of the island. The low will continue moving northward during the next 24 hours. With this, fair weather will prevail across the island. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A surface ridge extends across the west Atlantic anchored by a 1027 mb high near 33N69W. To the southeast, a surface low is centered near 22N67W with surface trough extending from 29N67W to the low to 19N67W. Scattered showers prevail across the northern portion of the trough north of 20N and between 60W-70W. Gale-force winds are depicted in scatterometer data over the northern semicircle of the low. Please refer to the section above for details. The remainder of the basin is dominated by a surface ridge anchored by a 1022 mb high near 29N26W. Expect during the next 24 hours for the low to continue moving northward enhancing convection/winds/seas. Surface ridging will prevail elsewhere. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA