000 AXNT20 KNHC 200002 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 702 PM EST Sun Nov 19 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 2345 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURE... Strong high pressure building behind a cold front over the Gulf of Mexico is supporting frequent wind gusts to gale force S of 23N W of the front. These winds are forecast to continue through Monday morning. Wave heights of 8 to 12 ft are expected associated with these winds. See the latest high seas forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 for more details. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough extends from the African coast near 09N14W to 06N20W. The Intertropical Convergence Zone axis extends from 06N20W to 05N40W to the South American coast near 08N60W. Scattered heavy showers and tstms are from 02N to 09N between 20W and 43W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A middle to upper level trough with axis over the E CONUS and base over the NE Gulf supports a cold front extending from central Florida near 27N82W to the central Gulf near 24N90W to the Bay of Campeche near 19N96W. Near gale to gale force winds are in the SW basin behind the front continuing through Monday morning. Please refer to the special features section for more details. Fresh to strong northerly winds are elsewhere N of the front while light to gentle northerlies are ahead of the front in the SE basin. CIRA LPW and GOES-16 water vapor imagery continue to show deep layered dry air across most of the basin supporting clear skies. However, shallow moisture support isolated showers within 45 nm either side of the front. The front will move over south Florida tonight through Monday morning then it will stall before dissipating Tuesday. A surface trough, remnant of the front will develop a center of low pressure that is forecast to move to the NE basin Tuesday morning with showers. CARIBBEAN SEA... CIRA LPW and GOES-16 water vapor imagery show deep layered dry air across the western Caribbean, which is supporting mainly clear skies W of 76W. A 1008 mb low prevails SE of Jamaica near 16N75W with associated trough extending ENE towards 17N67W. An upper level ridge covers the remainder half of the basin with diffluent flow that continue to support scattered heavy showers and isolated tstms between 64W and 72W, including Puerto Rico and extending E to the Virgin Islands. Scattered to isolated showers are across Hispaniola and the Mona Passage associated with the area of low pressure along with the upper level diffluent environment. The center of low pressure is forecast to move over the SW Caribbean where it will weaken into a surface trough Monday night. A low or surface trough is forecast to develop across Hispaniola supporting showers in the island and north-central Caribbean waters through Tuesday. ...HISPANIOLA... Scattered to isolated showers prevail across the island and adjacent waters continuing through Monday night into Tuesday morning. These showers will be associated with a new center of low pressure or trough forecast to develop over the region Monday. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front is moving across the far NW SW N Atlc waters extending from 30N78W to near Cape Canaveral, Florida into the Gulf of Mexico. Fresh to strong NW winds are NW of the front. A 1020 mb high centered near 33N56W dominates the remainder of the western Atlantic waters N of 23N W of 49W. In the central Atlc, another cold front extends from 30N36W to 25N45W to 21N54W supporting scattered showers and isolated tstms N of 24N between 30W and 47W. A surface trough extends from the tail of this front to N of Puerto Rico and support similar convection for the region S of 22N between 57W and 68W. High pressure centered near 39N14W dominates the remainder of the eastern Atlantic. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Ramos