000 AXNT20 KNHC 291800 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 200 PM EDT Sun Apr 29 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 1600 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURE... Please refer to the METEO-FRANCE High Seas Forecast listed on the website: WWW.METEOFRANCE.COM/PREVISIONS-METEO- MARINE/BULLETIN/GRANDLARGE/METAREA2. Frequent gusts to gale force winds are forecast along the coasts for the following area: AGADIR. Near gale force winds are forecast for the NE portion of the following area: TARFAYA. The OUTLOOK, for the 24 hours that follow the forecast that is valid until 01/1200 UTC, consists of the threat of near gale over AGADIR and TARFAYA. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from Sierra Leone on the coast of Africa near 08N13W to 02N21W. The ITCZ continues from 02N21W to 01S33W to the mouth of the Amazon River near 00N50W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is present along the coast of South America within 150 nm either side of a line from an area bounded by 07S30W to 03N50W. ...DISCUSSION... GULF OF MEXICO... A weakening cold front has just entered the far NE Gulf near the Florida Panhandle. High pressure ridges S over the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi Valley. Light to moderate winds are occurring beneath the ridge over the Gulf. Convergent SE low-level flow is producing cloudiness and patchy light rain along the Gulf coast of Mexico W of 94W. The cold front will continue heading SE over the NE Gulf and dissipate tonight. High pressure over the United States will head east off the Georgia coast Mon but maintain a ridge WSW across the northern gulf waters through Thu. 15 to 20 kt SE return flow will then dominate the Gulf Tue through Fri. CARIBBEAN SEA... A weakening front has stalled just S of Cuba from 21N79W to 21N84W. This boundary will slowly dissipate through Mon. Atlantic high pressure will maintain fresh trades across the entire area south of 17N, with locally strong trades over the S central Caribbean along the north coast of Colombia through Thu. The southern portion of a broad inverted trough will move into the eastern Caribbean Thu, and reach to south of Hispaniola on Fri. Expect a surge of fresh to locally strong E to SE winds in the wake of the trough along with scattered showers and thunderstorms possibly impacting the eastern Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico towards the end of the upcoming week. Otherwise, a relatively dry weather pattern is being promoted by mid to upper-level ridging extending over the basin from South America. This pattern will persist through Tue. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends from 32N66W through weak 1016 mb low pressure centered near 29N71W to 23N77W, then continues as a weakening stationary front to central Cuba near 22N78W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is occurring along and up to 90 nm SE of the front over the Bahamas from 22N to 28N. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is also found along and up to 90 nm SE of the front to the N of 29N. A new cold front entering the NW waters from the SE United States will move quickly eastward and merge with the weakening front along a position from near 28N65W to W central Cuba Mon night, then become stationary from near 27N65W to W central Cuba by early Wed. Strong high pressure will slide eastward near 31N Mon night through Wed and create a tight gradient between it and the front. Deep layered troughing in the vicinity of 60W Wed will manifest itself as an inverted trough at the surface that is forecast to shift W on Thu toward the SE Bahamas. An upper-level trough extending SW over the eastern and central Atlantic from 32N28W to 23N40W to 16N52W is generating an area of cloudiness and isolated showers and thunderstorms W of the Cape Verde Islands from 15N to 19N between 30W and 42W. A very large 1036 mb high centered over the central Atlantic near 38N43W is producing moderate to fresh NE to E trades and fair weather over the tropical Atlc N of the ITCZ between 30W and 50W. Winds veer from the E to SE along the SW flank of the high. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ McElroy