000 AXNT20 KNHC 211729 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 129 PM 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1715 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNING... A first cold front is along 31N75W 25N80W. A second cold front, that is stronger and reinforcing, passes through 31N79W to the Florida coast near 29N81W. The first front is about 180 nm to the E and SE of the second front. Winds to minimal gale force can be expected north of 28N today, before diminishing to less than gale force tonight. The fronts will merge before stalling across the far SE waters during this weekend. Please read the High Seas Forecast, under WMO/AWIPS headers FZNT02 KNHC/HSFAT2, for more details, and the OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE SW AND TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA, listed under the WMO/AWIPS headers, FZNT23 KNHC/OFFNT3, 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 passes through the coastal sections of Sierra Leone near 08N13W, to 05N18W. The ITCZ continues from 05N18W to 02N29W, and to 01N36W. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong rainshowers, in a disorganized pattern, are to the south of the line 08N13W 04N30W 03N51W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... Please read the Special Features section for information about the Gale Warning. A first cold front cuts across the area, passing through the Straits of Florida near 25N80W, across NW Cuba, across the northern parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, to 19N96W in the northern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec of southern Mexico. The front becomes stationary near 19N96W, and it continues northwestward to 25N101W. A second cold front is moving through Florida across Lake Okeechobee, to 25N84W and 24N90W in the Gulf of Mexico. The second cold front is about 180 nm to the NW of the first cold front. A first cold front moved southeast of the region this morning. The first front is being followed by a second and stronger reinforcing cold front, that is moving through the eastern Gulf. The second front will shift southeast 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 broad surface trough is apparent in the isobaric pattern, from the Windward Passage to the coast of Colombia along 76W/77W. 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 first cold front is along 31N75W 25N80W. A second cold front, that is stronger and reinforcing, passes through 31N79W to the Florida coast near 29N81W. The first front is about 180 nm to the E and SE of the second front. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong rainshowers are from 27N to 30N between 68W and 74W. A surface ridge extends from a 1035 mb high pressure center that is near 36N24W, through 33N32W, to 30N41W, 27N54W, 23N63W, and to 21N79W near Cuba. Surface anticyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the two cold fronts, that are in the western sections of the Atlantic Ocean. Winds to minimal gale force can be expected north of 28N today before diminishing to less than gale force tonight. The fronts will merge before stalling across the far SE waters during this weekend. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT