000 AXNT20 KNHC 270152 AAA TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion...Updated NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 851 PM EST Fri Jan 26 2018 Updated Caribbean Sea section 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 0130 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Atlantic Gale Warning: The pressure gradient has significantly tightened between a cold front that extends from 32N54W to 26N63W to 24N70W where it becomes a stationary front to across the central Bahamas and to central Cuba and very strong high pressure of 1044 mb centered just offshore the Virginia/North Carolina coast. This tightening of the pressure gradient has induced a large area of near gale to minimal gale force NE to E winds over the waters between the front and the Bahamas S of about 27N. Seas are increasing with these winds to the range of 12 to 16 ft. Strong NE to E winds are elsewhere W of the front. The latest model guidance indicates that these winds will be slow in diminishing, and as per the latest issued forecasts, these winds are forecast to lessen to just below gale force on Sun afternoon. Seas at that time will still remain quite high over the aforementioned waters, in the 10 to 15 ft range. Please see the latest NHC High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers Misfit/FZNT02 KNHC for more details on this event. Caribbean Gale Warning: The combination of very strong high pressure centered just offshore the Virginia/North Carolina coast and lower pressure over South America is resulting in winds reaching minimal gale force near the coast of Colombia. These conditions will persist late at night into the early morning hours under the present favorable synoptic pattern. Please see the latest NHC High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details on this event. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The Monsoon Trough axis extends from the coast of Africa at 06N10W to 05N14W where the latest scatterometer data indicates the ITCZ begins and continues to 02N23W to 01N30W to below the Equator at 34W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is within 120 nm S of the axis between 32W-34W, and within 90 nm N and S of the axis between 27W-29W. Scattered moderate convection is N of the axis within 60 nm of line from 06N13W to 05N18W to 04N21W, and also S of the axis between 16W-22W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... Strong surface high pressure centered near the northeastern United States is supporting a large area of 20 to 25 kt winds over much of the eastern and central Gulf of Mexico. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms along with patches of rain are noted over much the central portions of the gulf. This activity is lifting NNE. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are seen over the SW Gulf just E of a surface trough that extends from 21N95W to 19N92W. Strong winds are expected to continue over the eastern Gulf on Sat. On Sun, the pattern is expected to change as low pressure is forecast to develop over the N central waters along a warm front that will evolve from the SW surface trough as it lifts northward. The low is forecast to quickly move across the NE Gulf on Sun while pushing a cold front across the eastern gulf waters through early on Mon. Expect widespread rain along with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms with system. CARIBBEAN SEA...Updated Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section above for details about regarding the gale conditions near the coast of Colombia. Fresh to strong trades are occurring across much of the region, especially west of 70W due to the aforementioned strong high pressure system to the north of the area. The only area of notable scattered shower and isolated thunderstorm activity exists over the far western Caribbean Sea close to the coasts of Honduras, Belize, and the southern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula. Similar activity has recently developed over the waters between Jamiaca and 82W. Since the surface pattern is expected to change very little through Sun, strong trade wind flow is forecast to continue during the next couple of days. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section above for details about the gale conditions over portions of the waters between the Bahamas and a central Atlantic cold front. A cold front enters the discussion area through 32N54W to 26N63W to 24N70W where it becomes a stationary front to across the central Bahamas and to central Cuba, while very strong high pressure of 1044 mb is situated along the coast of southeastern Virginia and North Carolina. The resultant tight gradient has increased the NE to E winds between the front and the Bahamas to the ranges of near gale to minimal gale along with large seas. These conditions are expected to continue into early Sun afternoon. Scattered showers are within 60 nm either side of the front. Farther east, another strong 1040 mb surface high centered near 40N22W dominates the area E of the cold front maintaining rather stable weather over much of the central and eastern sections of the area, except for the far eastern portion S of 24N and E of 40W where abundant mid and upper level clouds are streaming eastward towards Africa ahead of a mid to upper level trough located N of 15N between 30W and 40W. 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