000 AXNT20 KNHC 262355 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 755 PM EDT Tue Sep 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2230 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Tropical Storm Maria is centered near 34.6N 72.9W at 27/0000 UTC or about 135 nm east-southeast of Cape Hatteras North Carolina, moving north at 6 kt. Minimum central pressure is 975 mb. Maximum sustained winds are 60 kt with gusts to 75 kt. Maria is a very large cyclone with tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 200 nm from the center. Scattered moderate convection is within 330 nm of the storm in the eastern semicircle. Stable air on the western semicircle is resulting in mainly showers within 300 nm west of the center. Buoy data indicates seas of 15 ft extending nearly 300 nm southeast of the center, with 8 ft seas about 420 nm south and southeast of the center. See the latest NHC Forecast/Advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATCMAT5/WTNT25 KNHC for more details. Hurricane Lee is centered near 29.9N 54.6W at 26/2100 UTC or about 545 nm east of Bermuda. Lee is moving to the west at 7 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 971 mb. Maximum sustained winds are 95 kt with gusts to 115 kt. Lee is a small cyclone with numerous moderate and isolated strong convection confined to within 90 nm of the center. Lee is forecast to remain a hurricane the next couple of days as it turns toward the west- northwest by Wednesday, then turns north then northeast on Thursday. See the latest NHC Forecast/Advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATCMAT4/WTNT24 KNHC for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave exited off the coast of Africa earlier today and has an axis extending along 17W/18W from 13N to 04W, moving westward at around 15 kt. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection are from 09N to 13N, east of the wave axis. A tropical wave extends along 42W/44W from 18N to 06N, moving westward at around 15 kt. This wave is well defined in 700 mb wind fields. A fairly dry and stable environment covers the northern portion of the wave. Scattered moderate convection is south of 11N between 40W and 49W. A tropical wave is in the central Caribbean along 71W/72W, from 19N to 09N, moving west at 10 to 15 kt. The wave is embedded within a weak 700 mb trough. Isolated moderate convection is within 90 nm of the wave axis north of 15N, and is partially due to upper level diffluence over the region. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Africa near 15N17W to 10N26W to 09N47W. The Intertropical Convergence Zone extends from 09N47W to 09N61W. Aside from convection associated with the tropical waves, scattered moderate convection is from 08N to 14N between 50W and 56W. Widely scattered moderate convection is from 10N to 14N between 51W and 57W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... An upper low over the eastern Gulf supports scattered thunderstorms south of 28N, east of 90W. Afternoon thunderstorm activity over SE Mexico has moved offshore over the Bay of Campeche. Otherwise, weak ridging extends from Ohio Valley high pressure, southwestward over the northern Gulf, supporting gentle to moderate winds over the basin outside of thunderstorm activity. Over the next 24 hours thunderstorms will continue over the southeast Gulf. CARIBBEAN SEA... A tropical wave is over the central Caribbean. Please refer to the tropical waves section for details. A surface trough extends from 21N82W to 12N82W and is located under a broad upper level anticyclone that is supportive of widely scattered thunderstorms across much of the western Caribbean. A ridge of high pressure over the SW N Atlantic supports moderate to locally fresh trades over the Caribbean, except gentle winds over the southwest Caribbean near the E Pacific monsoon trough. Little change is expected over the next 24 hours. ...HISPANIOLA... A tropical wave is crossing the island today supporting isolated showers and thunderstorms. The wave will move west of the island on Wednesday. However, upper level conditions will support additional mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Two tropical waves are moving across the basin. Please refer to the tropical waves section above for details. Tropical Storm Maria in the western Atlantic and Hurricane Lee in the central Atlantic are discussed in the special features section above. A plume of moisture is being pulled northeast across the bahamas and surrounding waters by an upper low over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and by low level southerly flow well to the south of Maria. This plume combined with upper level diffluence from the upper low supports numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms from 22N to 28N, west of 71W. Elsewhere, surface ridging prevails across much of the remainder of the central and the eastern Atlantic, anchored by a 1020 mb high centered near 34N44W. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Latto