000 AXNT20 KNHC 060525 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 125 AM EDT Sat May 6 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0515 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...GULF OF MEXICO GALE WARNING... The pressure gradient present over the northern Gulf of Mexico is supporting gusts to gale-force mainly north of 28N and east of 90W. These conditions are expected until 06/1200 UTC. Please read the latest National Hurricane Center High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNING... A cold front extends across the west Atlantic from 31N77W to 23N80W. Westerly winds of 20-30 kt with frequent gusts to 35 kt and sea heights reaching 8 feet are expected the north of 29N and west of the front. These conditions are expected until 06/1200 UTC. Please read the latest National Hurricane Center High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The Monsoon Trough crosses the western African coast near 07N13W and extends to 05N14W, where the ITCZ begins and extends to 01S30W to the South American coast near 00N49W. Scattered moderate convection is from 06S-05N between 12W-35W. ...DISCUSSION... ...THE GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends across the Florida Straits with convection to the east of it affecting the west Atlantic. The basin is dominated by a surface ridge anchored by a 1015 mb high centered near 25N95W. A small area of strong winds with frequent gale-force gusts prevails across the northeast Gulf. Please refer to the section above for details. Gentle to moderate anticyclonic winds prevail elsewhere. Expect for the front to continue moving east away from the Gulf waters. Surface ridging will prevail through the next 24 hours. ...THE CARIBBEAN SEA... A cold front extends from W Cuba near 22N82W to the Yucatan Peninsula near 17N88W. A pre-frontal trough extends from 21N81W to 15N84W. Abundant cloudiness and scattered showers are observed along these features and in its vicinity mainly west of 75W. To the south, a surface trough extends across Central America supporting scattered moderate convection over Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, and their adjacent waters south of 11N. Scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh trades prevailing across the majority of the basin mainly east of the front while light to moderate westerly winds prevail west of the front. In 24 hours, expect for the front to extend from eastern Cuba to northern Honduras with convection. ...HISPANIOLA... Presently isolated showers remain over the island especially over the higher terrain. Expect for pre-frontal convection to affect the island during the next 24 hours. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends from the west Atlantic near 31N77W to 23N81W. Scattered moderate convection prevails along and within 270 nm east of the front mainly north of 23N. Frequent gusts to gale-force are expected north of 29N and west of the front. Please refer to the section above for details. A broad area of high pressure extends across the remainder of the basin with fair weather. Expect during the next 24 hours for the front in the west Atlantic to continue moving east with convection. Another cold front will enter the central Atlantic from the north with isolated convection. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA