000 AXNT20 KNHC 121012 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 612 AM EDT Wed Apr 12 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0930 UTC. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The Monsoon Trough extends across the western Africa coast near 08N13W to 01N20W. The Intertropical Convergence Zone continues from 01N20W to 03S40W. Isolated moderate convection is from 04N to 09N E of 17W. Widely scattered moderate convection is S of 04N between 11W and 31W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front is has entered the northwest Gulf and extends from 30N93W to 28N97W. Moderate northeast winds are north of the front. This front is expected to dissipate through this morning. A surface trough is just west of the Florida west coast accompanied by scattered showers. High pressure dominates the rest of the basin, as a ridge axis extends westward across the northeast Gulf from high pressure over the western Atlantic. This ridge supports mainly moderate easterly winds over the gulf basin this morning. CARIBBEAN SEA... High pressure north of the region supports moderate to fresh easterly trades over the majority of the Caribbean basin this morning. The only exceptions are locally strong winds along the northwestern coast of Colombia, the Lee of Cuba, and the Windward Passage. A surface trough extends from the Atlantic and across Puerto Rico. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are within 240 nm of either side of the trough axis. This trough is helping to disrupt the trade wind flow over the northeastern Caribbean. The strong winds will decrease during the day today, and will then pulse back to strong tonight. Little change is expected elsewhere over the next 24 hours. ...HISPANIOLA... Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are over mainly eastern Hispaniola this morning due a surface trough to the east and abundant low level moisture over the region. Expect a gradual drying trend through early Thursday. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front enters the area of discussion near 31N47W and extends to 29N54W where it transitions to a stationary front to 28N63W, then transitions there to an occluded front that extends to near 26N68W. A 1014 mb low is centered south of the occluded front near 25N66W with a surface trough that extends from the low southward to Puerto Rico. Strong easterly winds are north of the low to 31N. Numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms are from 23N to 31N between 56W and 70W. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are within 240 nm of either side of the trough S of 23N. High pressure of 1023 mb centered near 28N40W dominates the central and eastern Atlantic. Over the next 24 hours the low will drift westward with ongoing shower and thunderstorm activity within several hundred nm of the system. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Latto