000 AXNT20 KNHC 300534 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 134 AM EDT Fri Mar 30 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0530 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...GALE WARNING FOR THE SOUTH-CENTRAL CARIBBEAN... A surface ridge anchored over the western Atlantic combines with lower pressures over northern South America to support winds pulsing to gale-force within 75 nm of the coast of Colombia between 74W-76W. These conditions will recur during the evening and overnight hours for the next few days. Please read the High Seas Forecast issued by the National Weather Service under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. This information also is found at the following website: www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from 08N12W to 05N16W. The ITCZ begins from 05N16W to 00N49W. Scattered moderate convection is noted along the ITCZ between 16W-35W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends across the western portion of the basin from 30N88W to 20N97W. Scattered showers prevail along the front mainly north of 27N between 86W-94W. A surface ridge extends from the west Atlantic across the remainder of the basin. Expect for the front to extend from the Big Bend of Florida to Veracruz Mexico by this morning, then stalling and weakening from central Florida to the Bay of Campeche on Saturday. Fresh to near-gale force NW winds are expected in the Bay of Campeche from tonight through late Saturday. CARIBBEAN SEA... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for details about the Gale Warning for the waters near the coast of Colombia. Seismic activity with undersea volcano Kick'em Jenny, north of Grenada near 12.18N 61.38W has steadily declined, and the alert level for mariners has returned to normal, with an exclusion zone of 1.5 km. Please see www.nadma.gd for additional information. High pressure centered north of the area over the west Atlantic will shift east-northeast through Saturday morning, allowing the continuation of fresh to strong trade winds in the south-central Caribbean. Minimal gale-force winds near the coast of Colombia are forecast for tonight. Northerly swell will propagate into the north-central Caribbean through this morning. Fresh to strong winds will develop in the Gulf of Honduras through the morning hours today. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A surface ridge prevails across the west Atlantic anchored by a 1024 mb high centered near 30N72W. To the east, a 1014 mb surface low is located near 25N57W, with a trough extending from the low to 18N57W. Scattered showers are noted with these features between 50W-60W. A surface ridge prevails across the remainder of the basin anchored by a 1029 mb high centered near 36N30W. High pressure northeast of the Bahamas will shift east-northeast through Saturday morning allowing for the winds and seas to diminish gradually. A cold front will move off northeast Florida on this evening, stall north of the Bahamas on Saturday, and then lift north of the area as a warm front from Sunday through Monday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA