000 AXNT20 KNHC 272339 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 739 PM EDT Fri Apr 27 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 extends from 08N13W to 03N20W to 02N26W. The ITCZ continues from 02N26W to 00N40W to 01S48W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is located from 01S-04S between 37W-40W. Isolated moderate convection is from 02N-02S between 40W-50W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from Jacksonville Florida near 31N81W to the central Gulf of Mexico near 25N90W to N of Tampico Mexico near 24N98W. A thin band of clouds and isolated showers are along this boundary with light to moderate northerly winds occurring in its wake. More significant showers and thunderstorms exist over the far southeastern Gulf and the Straits of Florida in association with the remnants of a front and an upper-level jet. The cold front is expected to clear the entire region by Saturday night with high pressure building in its wake. Most of the region should experience fair weather and relatively light winds/low seas this weekend. CARIBBEAN SEA... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are occurring over the far southwestern Caribbean Sea near the coasts of Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica. This activity is primarily associated with the monsoon trough. Similar activity is occurring over the far northwestern Caribbean to include the E Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, central Honduras, and W Cuba. Otherwise, typical patches of low clouds and isolated showers are moving westward across the area in the trade wind flow, especially over Hispaniola. The trade winds are relatively light due to low pressure to the north of the area, and these winds should remain lighter-than-normal for much of this weekend. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A fairly large area of showers and thunderstorms are occurring over the western Atlantic from 20N-30N between 67W-80W. This activity is associated with a surface trough and an upper-level jet. A 1018 mb low is producing scattered showers over the central Atlantic from 23N-30N between 52W-58W. Otherwise, generally quiet weather conditions exist across the basin supported by surface high pressure and dry air in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere. Looking ahead to the weekend, low pressure is expected to remain over the western Atlantic, while high pressure will domninate over the central and eastern Atlantic. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa