000 AXNT20 KNHC 210507 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 107 AM EDT Wed Mar 21 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 0500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNING... A cold front extends across the far west Atlantic. Gale force southwest winds are noted ahead of the front to 75W and north of 30N, with seas building to 9 ft. The Gale Warning will continue through the next 24-30 hours as the front continues moving east across the west Atlantic. Please refer to the High Seas Forecast product under WMO/AWIPS headers FZNT02 KNHC/HSTAT2 for more details. ...GULF OF MEXICO GALE WARNING... The same cold front described above extends across the east Gulf of Mexico from 27N82W TO 21N97W. Near-gale force northwesterly winds with frequent gusts up to gale-force are noted behind the front north of 27N between 83W-90W, with seas up to 9 ft. These conditions will continue through the next 12 hours. Please refer to the High Seas Forecast product under WMO/AWIPS headers FZNT02 KNHC/HSTAT2 for more details. ...GALE WARNING for the METEO-FRANCE areas... Please refer to the METEO-FRANCE High Seas Forecast, that is listed on the website: WWW.METEOFRANCE.COM/PREVISIONS-METEO- MARINE/BULLETIN/ GRANDLARGE/METAREA2. Gale-force winds are forecast for the areas: AGADIR, TARFAYA, and CANARIAS. The OUTLOOK, for the 24 hours that follow the forecast that is valid until 21/1200 UTC, consists of: the persistence of a N or NE near- gale or gale in AGADIR, TARFAYA, CANARIAS, and CAP BLANC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends across the coast of Africa near 11N16W to 08N20W. The ITCZ continues from 08N20W to 00N31W to the coast of Brazil near 02S42W. Scattered showers are within 75 nm either side of the ITCZ between 29W-35W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... Please read the Special Features section above for information about the Gale Warning currently in effect. A cold front extends from 27N82W to 20N96W then becomes stationary across eastern Mexico. A secondary front is developing over the northeast Gulf waters extending from 30N83W to 28N86W. Scattered showers are expected along both fronts. Scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh winds across the basin, except where the Gale Warning is in effect. Expect for the fronts to merge as they continue moving east with showers. High pressure will build in the wake of the fronts and prevail through Sun. CARIBBEAN SEA... Undersea volcano Kick'em Jenny, north of Grenada near 12.18N 61.38W, is in a state of unrest. The government of Grenada advises mariners to observe a 5 km or 3.1 nm exclusion zone around Kick'em Jenny. Please refer to the webpage, www.nadma.gd, for additional information. A surface ridge anchored over the central Atlantic extends across the basin. A 1006 mb low is centered over north Colombia. The resultant surface pressure gradient will support fresh to locally strong trade winds across the south central Caribbean Sea during the next several days. Winds will reach near-gale force along the northwest coast of Colombia during the overnight hours. A cold front will approach the Yucatan Channel tonight and enter the northwest Caribbean through the day enhancing winds/seas. The front will then become stationary and dissipate through the next few days. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the Special Features section for information about the Gale Warning in the Atlantic Ocean. A cold front enters the far west Atlantic west of 82W. An area of showers and thunderstorms is noted ahead of the front between 70W-78W. To the east, an upper level trough is in the central Atlantic supporting a surface trough that extends from 31N47W to 26N53W. Scattered showers are observed within 150 nm east of the trough. A surface ridge extends across the remainder of the basin anchored by a 1034 mb high centered near 36N26W. The surface trough will move eastward today. The front will continue moving eastward with convection, stalling and weakening this weekend. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA