000 AXNT20 KNHC 010005 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 705 PM EST Wed Jan 31 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2345 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Caribbean Sea Gale Warning: A slightly tighter pressure gradient, between a strong surface ridge moving into the SW N Atlc and comparatively lower surface pressures in northwest South America, will support minimal gale-force winds pulsing at night near the coast of Colombia through Thursday night. The sea heights will range from 10 feet to 15 feet during that period. Please read the latest NHC High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough remains inland in Africa. The ITCZ passes through the coastal sections of Liberia near 06N11W to 02N20W and to the Equator along 37W. Scattered showers are within 120 nm either side of the ITCZ. ...DISCUSSION... ...GULF OF MEXICO... A surface ridge extends from a 1029 mb high pressure center located in North Carolina into the NE corner of the Gulf of Mexico. A relaxed pressure gradient across the basin is supporting light to gentle return flow ahead of the next cold front to move southeast off the northern Gulf coast Friday morning. The front will stall east to west along 26N Friday night, and then lift northward as a warm front across the western Gulf waters from Saturday through Saturday night. A second cold front will be move across Florida Monday morning, reaching South Florida Monday night. Fresh to strong northerly winds will follow both fronts. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details regarding gale-force wind conditions near the coast of Colombia. A dissipating stationary front extends from eastern Cuba SW into the Gulf of Honduras. Isolated showers are within 120 nm either side of the boundary. The front will dissipate gradually through Thursday night. The surface pressure gradient between Atlantic Ocean high pressure and persistent low pressure in northwest Colombia will support nocturnal gale-force winds along the northwest coast of Colombia tonight, and again on Thursday night, with maximum seas of 15 feet. The pressure gradient will relax during the upcoming weekend. A cold front will stall across the Yucatan Channel on Monday. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... An upper level trough passes through 32N61W, to the NW Bahamas and NW Cuba. This trough supports a cold front that passes through 32N61W to 28N64W to 25N69W. The front is stationary from 25N69W to SE Cuba near 21N76W. The stationary front is dissipating from 21N76W to 19N81W, and into the Gulf of Honduras. A pre- frontal trough is within 120 nm to the east of the cold front from 23N to 33N. Precipitation: isolated to widely scattered moderate rainshowers are within 60 nm on either side of the line that passes through 32N56W to 29N58W. rainshowers are possible elsewhere to the NW of the line that passes through 32N54W 26N60W 21N65W, to the eastern tip of Hispaniola. Upper level cyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean from 18N northward between 40W and 53W. A 1012 mb low pressure center is near 22N51W. One surface trough extends from the low pressure center to 22N49W 19N54W and 21N58W. A second surface trough is along 22N44W 16N51W 13N60W near Barbados. Precipitation: scattered moderate to isolated strong rainshowers are from 22N to 28N between 40W and 44W. rainshowers are possible elsewhere from 20N northward between 40W and 55W, within 240 nm on either side of 23N55W 17N63W, and within 60 nm to 120 nm on either side of 20N45W 16N51W 11N60W, and to 10N63W including crossing Trinidad and parts of NE Venezuela. A surface ridge is along 30W, from 10N northward. Remnants of the current front will lift northward across the Bahamas on Thursday night ahead of a second cold front, that will be moving southeast off the northeast Florida coast on Friday morning. The second cold front will reach from Bermuda to 24N80W on Saturday, then stall from 25N65W to 23N80W on Saturday night. The frontal remnants will lift north early on Sunday ahead of a third cold front, that is forecast to be moving off the northeast Florida coast on Sunday night. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Ramos