000 AXNT20 KNHC 231200 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 700 AM EST Fri Feb 23 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1130 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Caribbean Sea Gale Warning: A tight surface pressure gradient continues between a strong high pressure system near Bermuda and lower pressures over northern portions of South America. This pattern is supporting winds of minimal gale-force near the coast of Colombia through this afternoon. Wave heights within the area of gale- force winds will range from 11 to 14 feet. Please read the latest NHC High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. Gale force winds are also occurring over the eastern Atlantic Ocean associated with a 998 mb low pressure system near 27N 25W. This low is expected to approach the Canary Islands during the next 24 hours. Please refer to the METEO-FRANCE High Seas Forecast listed on the website: WWW.METEOFRANCE.COM/PREVISIONS- METEO- MARINE/BULLETIN/ GRANDLARGE/METAREA2. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic Ocean near 8N13W and continues to 1N28W, where the ITCZ begins. The ITCZ extends southwestward and crosses the Equator near 31W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is from 1N to 5N between 12W and 20W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A stationary front is along the Texas Gulf coast, from the upper Texas coast, into the coastal waters of the Deep South of Texas, to the coast of NE Mexico near 24N97W. The stationary front continues to the Big Bend of Texas, and the Far West of Texas. Scattered showers are possible, in areas of scattered- to- broken low level clouds, from 93W eastward, and to the west of the line from 30N92W in Louisiana, to 22N97W along the coast of Mexico. The current stationary front, that is to the north of 24N between 96W and 97W, will weaken overnight, and then dissipate on Friday. A weak cold front will move into the NW Gulf late on Saturday night, then stall and weaken from the FL panhandle to NE Mexico from Sunday through Monday night. CARIBBEAN SEA... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details about the Gale Warning for the waters that are near the coast of Colombia. Isolated moderate rainshowers cover the area that is from 16N to 19N between 80W and 82W, about 200 nm to the W of Jamaica. Other rainshowers are possible, in areas of broken-to-overcast low level clouds, across the entire area. 24-hour rainfall totals have been generally low...according to the PAN AMERICAN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLES...MIATPTPAN/SXCA01 KNHC: 0.45 in Curacao, and 0.31 in Guadeloupe. The winds will pulse to minimal gale-force near the coast of Colombia tonight. Strong surface high pressure that is to the N of the area will support fresh-to-strong trade winds across the forecast waters that are to the east of 80W through Friday night. The area of strong high pressure will weaken from Saturday through Monday night, leading to diminishing winds and seas. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Upper level cyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean from 16N northward between Africa and 35W. The aforementioned low pressure system in the SPECIAL FEATURES section is producing numerous showers and thunderstorms north of 22N and east of 26W. Otherwise, generally quiet conditions exist across the remainder of the region supported by strong surface high pressure centered just west of Bermuda. This high is forecast to weaken and shift southward this weekend while a cold front pushes off the SE coast of the U.S. on Monday, and then becomes stationary along 28N on Tuesday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT/JPC