000 AXNT20 KNHC 210000 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 800 PM EDT Sat Oct 20 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. ...TROPICAL WAVES... An Atlantic tropical wave extends its axis along 53W from 03N- 15N, moving west around 10 kt. Total Precipitable Water imagery shows moderate to high moisture content in the wave's environment. Scattered showers are present from 10N-14N between 53W-61W. The wave could help to enhance showers and thunderstorms over the southern Windward Islands and southeast Caribbean late this weekend into early next week. A western Caribbean tropical wave is along 82W from 08N-18N, moving west around 10 kt. The wave corresponds with a 700 mb trough, as indicated by model analyses. Scattered moderate convection is noted south of 14N and west of 80W, extending to the coasts of Panama and Costa Rica, where the wave meets the monsoon trough. Upper-level divergence over the southwestern Caribbean is also playing a significant role in enhancing this convection. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast Africa near 13N17W to 10N20W. The ITCZ extends from 10N20W to 06N26W to 06N46W. Scattered to numerous moderate convection is noted from 06N-13N between 20W-38W. GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from the Louisiana coastline near 30N93W to a 1016 mb low near 27N96W. A surface trough extends southward from the low to 19N94W. To the east, a surface trough is analyzed from 29N92W to 26N93W. A 1019 mb high is centered over northern Florida, leading to quiet weather east of 90W. The surface trough will persist over the SW Gulf through early next week. The cold front will continue moving across the northern Gulf waters tonight. It is expected to become stationary as it reaches from S Florida to near 25N97W by Sun evening. The surface low will lift northeastward through Mon night, then east- northeastward across the north-central Gulf through Wed as high pressure builds across the waters north of the front and to the west of the low. CARIBBEAN SEA... The East Pacific monsoon trough extends eastward along 10N from Costa Rica to northern Colombia near 75W. Convection associated with a tropical wave along 81W interacting with the monsoon trough is described above in the tropical waves section. Farther east, Total Precipitable Water imagery shows high moisture content over northeastern Venezuela and the extreme southeastern Caribbean. Weak upper-level diffluence is noted along the northern coast of Venezuela. Scattered showers are occurring along the northern coast of Venezuela extending to 13N, including Trinidad and the southern Windward Islands. The remainder of the Caribbean is experiencing relatively quiet weather. Expect enhanced shower and thunderstorm activity to persist over the southeast Caribbean, southern Windward Islands, Trinidad and northern Venezuela into the middle of next week. Fresh to strong winds are expected in the Windward Passage, south of Hispaniola, and near the coast of Colombia today. Otherwise, moderate to fresh trades will prevail across most of the region through Tue night. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A stationary front passes through 32N49W to 26N62W. A pre-frontal trough extends from 27N51W to 23N55W. Scattered moderate convection prevails with these features mainly north of 24N between 47W-55W. To the south, another surface trough is located the vicinity of the trough. Another surface trough is from 15N40W to 12N43W. Scattered moderate convection is seen from 10N-14N between 35W-48W. An area of numerous moderate to strong convection is noted just east of Trinidad from 09N-12N along 59W. The aforementioned stationary front will dissipate by this evening west of 65W. A strong cold front will move off NE Florida this tonight, reaching from near 31N70W to 27N75W to near West Palm Beach by Sun afternoon, from near 31N64W to 26N72W to Miami late Sun night, and from 26N65W to the NW Bahamas and the Florida Keys by Mon evening, then becomes stationary. Fresh to strong winds and building seas are expected behind this front through late Mon before gradually subsiding by mid-week. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ AH/ERA