000 AXNT20 KNHC 062356 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 756 PM EDT Fri Apr 6 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 2315 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough continues from the border of Sierra Leone and Guinea on the coast of Africa near 09N13W to 03N20W. The ITCZ continues from 03N20W to 02N30W to the coast of Brazil near 02S45W. Scattered moderate convection is from 01N-04N between 18W-26W. widely scattered moderate convection is from 02S-03N between 31W-34W, and from 01S-03N between 40W-51W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... High pressure located over the Atlantic is ridging westward across the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to SRN Texas and NERN Mexico, producing little cloudiness. Moderate to occasionally fresh E to SE winds will gradually build to between 4 and 5 ft over the western Gulf. Otherwise, seas are running in the 2 to 4 foot range. Winds will slowly veer from the SE and S across the region through Saturday ahead of the next cold front, which is due to enter the NW Gulf Sat evening. The front will continue to move SE then stall from S Florida to the Bay of Campeche by Sun evening. CARIBBEAN SEA... 10-15 kt tradewinds dominates the Caribbean Sea with mostly fair weather. Mid to upper-level ridging extending northward over the basin from South America is promoting a generally dry weather pattern. The only exception to this is over Hispaniola, where a weak upper- level trough should trigger scattered showers over the higher terrain especially during evening hours. The trough is expected to move eastward away from Hispaniola, causing shower coverage to decrease during the next couple of days. Tradewind flow over the basin remains lighter than normal as low pressure systems moving eastward from the United States cause the ridge to the north to weaken. As a result, seas are running fairly low across the area, with the highest seas of around 5 ft occurring near the coast of Colombia. Little change in the weather pattern is expected during the next couple of days as the ridge to the north remains weak. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front enters the discussion area near 32N58W, and extends southwestward to 28N65W, then continues as a weakening cold front to 27N70W. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm of the front. A weak surface trough is located SW of the front from 26N70W to the S Bahamas near 21N73W. No significant convection is currently associated with this trough. Farther east, a weakening cold front is producing a narrow band of clouds and a few showers over the Canary Islands from 32N12W to 28N18W. Otherwise, a 1028 mb high pressure system located near 35N36W continues to dominate the central and eastern Atlantic. Fair weather and moderate trade winds will prevail over the tropical Atlantic N of the ITCZ and W of 30W. These winds will become fresh by Sun as the high pressure builds S and SWD over most of the area. The next cold front is expected to enter the far western Atlantic waters Sat night. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa