000 AXNT20 KNHC 212352 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 752 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2345 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNING... A pair of cold front extends across the west Atlantic. The first is from 31N70W to 24N80W. A reinforcing front extends from 31N74W to 26N80W. Winds to minimal gale force can be expected north of 28N between 75W and 80W and continue through the next 24 hours. 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 is exiting the basin extending from the Straits of Florida and through the Yucatan Channel and peninsula. The second front extends from 25N81W to 22N90W. Scattered showers are notes mainly along the first front. Scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh winds across the basin as a high pressure ridge builds behind the fronts. Expect for the ridge to prevail across the basin through the next few days. 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. The first is from 31N70W to 24N80W. A reinforcing front extends from 31N74W to 26N80W. Scattered moderate convection is observed along the first front mainly north of 26N between 67W-73W. 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 will continue through the next 24 hours. The fronts will merge before stalling across the far SE waters during this weekend. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA/MT