000 AXNT20 KNHC 020528 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1228 AM EST Tue Jan 2 2018 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 0445 UTC. ...GALE-FORCE WINDS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front passes through the Straits of Florida, to NW Cuba, across the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula to the N of 20N, and curving into the SW corner of the Gulf of Mexico and the northern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Expect NW-to-N gale- force winds, and sea heights ranging from 10 feet to 18 feet, to the S of 24.5N and W of the cold front, and within 75 nm of the coast. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...GALE-FORCE WINDS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front is along 31N66W 25N80W. Expect N-to-NE gale-force winds, and sea heights ranging from 8 feet to 15 feet, N of 28N and the front and W of 74W. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...ITCZ/MONSOON TROUGH... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal areas of Liberia near 06N10W to 06N16W to 05N21W. The ITCZ continues from 05N21W to 03N29W, to 02N42W. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong rainshowers are from 06N southward between 10W and 52W. ...DISCUSSION... ...THE GULF OF MEXICO... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details about the cold front and the gale-force winds. A cold front passes through the Straits of Florida, to NW Cuba, across the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula to the N of 20N, and curving into the SW corner of the Gulf of Mexico and the northern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Precipitation: broken to overcast multilayered clouds and possible rainshowers are spread throughout the entire area. ...THE CARIBBEAN SEA... An upper level ridge extends from the SE corner of the Caribbean Sea, to eastern Honduras/NE Nicaragua. 700 mb cyclonic wind flow covers the area from 15N southward. Precipitation: isolated moderate rainshowers from 13N to 17N between 67W and 78W. scattered to numerous strong is along the coast of Colombia from 08N to 9.5N between 76W and 78W, including in the Gulf of Uraba. Scattered to broken low level clouds and isolated moderate rainshowers are from 70W eastward, and from 20N southward from 80W westward. 24-hour rainfall totals in inches, for the period that ended at 02/0000 UTC, according to the PAN AMERICAN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLES...MIATPTPAN/SXCA01 KNHC...are: 0.03 in Guadeloupe. ...HISPANIOLA... SURFACE OBSERVATIONS...Scattered to broken low level clouds and possible rainshowers are moving across the island. The GFS MODEL forecast for 250 mb shows that SW wind flow will move across the island during the next 2 days. A ridge will be in the southern sections of the Caribbean Sea during the next few days. A trough will move into the NW corner of the Caribbean Sea, from Jamaica northwestward. The GFS MODEL forecast for 500 mb shows SW wind flow will move across the island during the next 48 hours. The SW wind flow will be due to anticyclonic wind flow in the Caribbean Sea during day one. The SW wind flow will be on the eastern side of a trough during day two. The GFS MODEL forecast for 700 mb shows that anticyclonic wind flow will move across the area during the next 48 hours. ...THE ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details about the cold front and the gale-force winds. A surface trough is along 31N61W to 25N69W. scattered to broken low level clouds and possible rainshowers are to the west of the line that passes through 32N52W to 20N65W. Scattered-to-broken low level clouds and possible rainshowers are in an area that is bounded by the line from 32N14W to 26N22W 26N32W 14N43W 13N57W 20N65W to 32N51W to 32N14W. A surface ridge passes through 32N32W, to 30N39W, 27N49W, 25N58W, and to 24N66W. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT