000 AXNT20 KNHC 122350 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 750 PM EDT Thu Apr 12 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. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal plains of Sierra Leone near 07N12W, to 04N16W and 03N22W. The ITCZ continues from 03N22W, crossing the Equator along 35W, to 01S45W in Brazil. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong rainshowers, in a disorganized pattern, are from 07N southward between 05W and 25W, and from 02N southward between 35W and 50W. rainshowers are possible elsewhere from 10N southward from 60W eastward. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A stationary front passes through 24N79W, into the Straits of Florida, just to the south of the southernmost part of the Florida Keys, to 24N84W. Scattered showers are possible along the front. A surface ridge passes through southern Georgia and the Florida Big Bend, to 28N89W, into the SW corner of the Gulf of Mexico near 19N97W. Southerly return flow is forecast across the Gulf waters through Friday, ahead of a cold front that is moving off the Texas coast on Friday night. The front will extend from the Mississippi Delta to the Bay of Campeche on Saturday night. The front will extend from the Florida Big Bend area to the Yucatan Peninsula on Sunday. The front will move southeast of the area on Sunday night. Gale- force wind conditions are forecast across the SW Gulf from Saturday into Saturday night. Southerly return flow will redevelop across the northwest Gulf on Monday night. CARIBBEAN SEA... Gentle to moderate trade winds continue across the basin. Broad upper level anticyclonic wind flow spans the Caribbean Sea. A surface trough continues from the eastern Pacific Ocean, across the border of Costa Rica and Panama, across 80W in Panama, into northern Colombia. Precipitation: scattered moderate convection is observed across the basin mainly over the Greater Antilles. Strong nocturnal winds are expected along the coast of Colombia through Monday. Fresh to strong trade winds will continue across the tropical waters that are to the east of the Lesser Antilles through Tuesday. Fresh to locally strong trade winds will develop across the northwest Caribbean Sea on Friday, ahead of a cold front that is passing through the Yucatan Channel on Sunday. The front will extend from eastern Cuba to the eastern part of Honduras late on Monday. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front passes through 32N58W to 27N65W to 24N73W, then becomes stationary through 24N80W. Scattered moderate convection is observed along the cold front, and lighter activity prevails along the stationary front. Surface anticyclonic wind flow covers the rest of the Atlantic Ocean from 10N northward from 70W eastward. A 1028 mb high pressure center is near 30N35W. The cold front will stall from 27N65W to the central Bahamas on Friday. Remnants of the front will lift northward on Saturday and Sunday, ahead of a second cold front that will be moving off the southeast Georgia coast on Sunday evening, with the second front reaching from Bermuda to east Cuba early on Tuesday. Strong to near gale force southerly flow is forecast to the north of the Bahamas on Sunday and Sunday night, with fresh to strong northerly winds expected behind the front on Monday and Monday night. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA/MT