000 AXNT20 KNHC 221703 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 103 PM 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1645 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...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. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal border sections of Sierra Leone and Liberia near 07N11W, to 05N15W. The ITCZ continues from 05N15W to 03N26W and 01N36W. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong rainshowers are south of the line 09N13W 07N30W 04N40W 02N50W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... The reinforcing cold front from 24 hours ago 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 21N77W in Cuba, to 19N84W in the NW Caribbean Sea, through Belize, into northern Guatemala. A second and dissipating cold front passes through 22N79W in Cuba, to 19N90W in the southern 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. Precipitation: isolated moderate from 16N to 20N between 60W and 70W, and in the Windward Passage from 17N to 20N between Haiti and 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. The wind speeds will reach near gale force along the NW coast of Colombia during the overnight hours. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A first cold front passes through 32N64W, to 26N70W, across the Bahamas near 23N74W, beyond Cuba near 21N77W. A second and dissipating cold front passes through 31N68W, across the Bahamas near 24N75W, beyond 22N79W in Cuba. The first front is about 90 nm to 120 nm to the E and SE of the second cold front. The fronts will merge, before stalling across the far SE waters during the upcoming weekend. It is possible that another cold front may drop S of 31N late Sunday through Monday. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong rainshowers are within 30 nm to 45 nm on either side of the line that passes through 32N60W 27N66W 25N70W 22N74W. An upper level cyclonic circulation center is near 22N40W. Upper level cyclonic wind flow is north of 07N between 27W and 54W. Broad surface anticyclonic wind flow covers the Atlantic Ocean from 60W eastward. A 1035 mb high pressure center is near 34N31W. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT