000 AXNT20 KNHC 211204 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 804 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1100 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNING... A cold front is along 31N77W 27N80W. N OF 30N E OF FRONT TO 72W SW WINDS 30 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. Please read the High Seas Forecast under WMO/AWIPS headers FZNT02 KNHC/HSFAT2 for more details. ...GULF OF MEXICO GALE WARNING... A cold front is along 26N81.5W 20.5N96W. N OF 27N E OF 89W W TO NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO GALE FORCE WITHIN 60 NM OF THE COAST. SEAS TO 9 FT. Please read the High Seas Forecast under WMO/AWIPS headers FZNT02 KNHC/HSFAT2 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 22/1200 UTC, consists of: the threat of a NE near-gale or locally 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 for information about the Gale Warning. A first cold front cuts across the area from south Florida, into the south central Gulf of Mexico. The front becomes stationary from the SW corner of the area, into Mexico near 20N at the coast, and it continues northwestward to 25N101W. A second cold front is moving through NE Florida, about 180 nm to the NW of the first cold front. The current cold front will shift SE of the area today. High pressure will build in the wake of the front and prevail through Sunday. 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. High pressure in the western Atlantic Ocean 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 NW coast of Colombia during the overnight hours. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the Special Features section for information about the Gale Warning. 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. Winds to minimal gale force can be expected north of 29N through tonight, as the current cold front moves eastward across the area. The winds will diminish below gale force later tonight. The front will stall across the far SE waters this weekend. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT