000
AXNT20 KNHC 200516
TWDAT 

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1216 AM EST Sat Jan 20 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 
0515 UTC.

...SPECIAL FEATURES...

The trade wind flow in the southern Caribbean is expected to 
increase during the next day or two, and these winds will reach 
gale-force in about 30 hours near the coast of Colombia. A Gale 
Warning is currently in effect for this area. See the latest NHC 
High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFEP2/FZPN03 KNHC 
for more details.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... 

The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic Ocean near 08N13W and 
continues to 03N18W. The ITCZ begins near 03N18W and extends 
westward to 01N38W. Scattered showers are noted along the ITCZ.

...DISCUSSION...

...GULF OF MEXICO...

A pair of surface highs prevail across the southeast CONUS and
west Atlantic. With these, surface ridging extends across the
majority of the basin. To the west, a 1017 surface low is 
centered over southern Texas, extending a trough along 96W.  
Moderate to fresh anticyclonic are noted in scatterometer data 
across most of the basin except near the surface trough. The low 
is expected to dissipate this weekend when the system loses its 
upper-level support. High pressure is expected to settle to the 
east of the area for much of the weekend.

...CARIBBEAN SEA...

The southern end of a frontal boundary over the Atlantic is
analyzed as a stationary front that extends across the Caribbean 
Sea from eastern Cuba, then becomes weak to just off the coast of
Honduras. Scattered showers prevail in the vicinity of the front
between 75W-85W. Similar activity lies south of 13N west of 80W 
aided by upper-level diffluent flow. Fresh to strong northeasterly
winds are noted between 70W-82W, while moderate trades prevail
elsewhere. The trade wind flow to the east of the front is 
expected to increase to gale-force near the coast of Colombia 
this weekend as high pressure builds to the north of the area. See
the Special Features section for more details.

...HISPANIOLA...

Partly cloudy skies and scattered showers prevail across the 
island as a stalled front lies just to the west of the area. 
This scenario will continue through the weekend. Fresh northeasterly
winds will continue over the Windward Passage for another day as 
high pressure builds across the western Atlantic.

...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

A cold front is moving over the central Atlantic from 31N50W to
22N67W, then becomes stationary from that point to 21N74W. 
Moderate to fresh winds prevail along and west of the stationary 
front, while gentle to moderate winds are noted near the cold 
front. High pressure is building in the wake of the front across 
the west Atlantic. To the east of the front, a surface trough 
extends from 24N45W to 18N48W. Elsewhere, the Bermuda-Azores high
dominates the remainder of the central and eastern Atlantic. 

For additional information please visit 
http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine

$$

ERA