000 AXNT20 KNHC 221204 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 804 AM EDT Thu Mar 22 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 first cold front passes through 32N66W, to 27N70W, across the Bahamas near 23N75W, beyond Cuba near 21N78W. A second cold front passes through 32N71W, across the southern part of Andros Island in the Bahamas, beyond 22N81W in Cuba. The first front is about 180 nm to the E and SE of the second cold front. SW gale-force winds, and sea heights ranging from 10 feet to 13 feet, have been part of the forecast N OF 30N BETWEEN 66W AND 68W. W gale-force winds, and sea heights ranging from 12 feet to 15 feet, have been part of the forecast N OF 30N BETWEEN 68W AND 78W. These conditions have been forecast to become less than gale force, and with sea heights subsiding, during the next hour or so. 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 current forecast, consists of: NE gale-force winds in AGADIR. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal sections of Sierra Leone near 08N13W, to 04N19W. The ITCZ continues from 04N19W to 01N29W, 01N36W, crossing the Equator along 39W, to 02S43W. 00N46W. isolated moderate to locally strong rainshowers are from 09N southward from 50W eastward. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... The reinforcing cold front has passed through the entire Gulf of Mexico area. Gale-force winds are being experienced in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, on the eastern Pacific Ocean side of southern Mexico. Broad surface anticyclonic wind flow spans the entire Gulf of Mexico. High pressure will prevail across much of the Gulf of Mexico through Monday. A trough will develop in the Yucatan peninsula each evening, and shift westward across the southwestern corner of the Gulf during the overnight hours. 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 first cold front passes through 21N78W in Cuba, to 19N88W in the SE part of the Yucatan Peninsula, to northern Guatemala. A second cold front passes through 22N81W in Cuba, to 20N89W in the north central part of the Yucatan Peninsula. These fronts will merge in the western half of the basin during the next few days. The resultant front will continue moving eastward while weakening. 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. The wind speeds 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 Warnings. A first cold front passes through 32N66W, to 27N70W, across the Bahamas near 23N75W, beyond Cuba near 21N78W. A second cold front passes through 32N71W, across the southern part of Andros Island in the Bahamas, beyond 22N81W in Cuba. The first front is about 180 nm to the E and SE of the second cold front. The fronts will merge before stalling across the far SE waters this weekend. Broad surface anticyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean from 60W eastward. A 1034 mb high pressure center is near 34N30W. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT