000 AXNT20 KNHC 131153 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 753 AM EDT Tue Mar 13 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... ...Atlantic Ocean Gale Warning... A cold front extends across the west Atlantic from 31N67W to the central Bahamas near 23N75W to eastern Cuba near 22N78W. Gale- force winds are expected overnight north of 28N west of the cold front to 76W, and north of 27N within 150 nm east of the front, with seas to 14 feet. The conditions will persist another 12 hours through this evening. Please read the latest Atlantic Ocean High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC, for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the African coast near 07N11W to 04N18W. The ITCZ continues from 04N18W to South America near 03S40W. Isolated showers are south of the monsoon trough and east of 14W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front exiting the basin extends from eastern Cuba across the Yucatan peninsula into the Bay of Campeche. Scattered rain showers are noted within 45 nm of the front. Fresh to strong northerly winds are across the basin. Strong northerly winds will diminish from the northwest during the day. A ridge will extend from northeast Texas to the Straits of Florida today, then a high pressure will be centered in the northeast Gulf from Thursday through the end of the week. CARIBBEAN SEA... A cold front extends from eastern Cuba near 22N78W to the Yucatan Channel near 19N88W. The front will reach from eastern Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras today, stall from Hispaniola to Nicaragua tonight, then dissipate by Thursday. High pressure will build southeastward from the Gulf of Mexico into the northwest Caribbean by the end of the week. Fresh to strong trades continue across the waters east of 80W, except for near gale-force winds north of the A-B-C islands. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Gale force winds are N of 28N over the western Atlantic behind a cold front that extends from 31N67W to eastern Cuba, and N of 27N within 150 nm east of the front. An area of scattered to numerous showers and a few thunderstorms is within 200 nm ahead of the front. A broad area of high pressure prevails across the central and eastern Atlantic, anchored by a 1023 mb high centered near 27N43W, and another 1023 mb high centered near 28N25W. The convection associated with the front will shift eastward and diminish today as the front continues pushing east. The front will reach from 30N65W to eastern Cuba today, then stall from 26N65W to E Cuba tonight. High pressure building from the northwest will cause the northern part of the front to begin moving east again by Wednesday night. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa