000 AXNT20 KNHC 172343 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 643 PM EST Sat Nov 17 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 axis extends from the coast of Sierra Leone near 09N13W to 06N19W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 04N34W to the coast of Brazil near 03N51W. Scattered moderate convection is along and well south of the monsoon trough from 02N-10N between 09W-22W. Elsewhere, a scattered convection is along the ITCZ from 01N-08N between 30W-42W. Another area of scattered convection has developed north of the ITCZ from 03N- 09N between 46W-49W. GULF OF MEXICO... A 1025 mb surface high pressure centered over northern Alabama near 34N87W extends over the northeastern and central Gulf of Mexico. Scattered to broken low level stratocumulus clouds are over portions of the central Gulf from 24N-30N between 85W-96W. In the upper levels, high clouds are noted over southeast Texas and the NW Gulf. Strong subsidence is over the eastern and southern Gulf. A ridge will dominate the Gulf waters producing a gentle to moderate anticyclonic flow through Sun. Moderate to locally fresh return flow will set up across the western Gulf on Sun, ahead of the next cold front forecast to reach the coast of Texas on Sun night. The front will move slowly across the NW Gulf through Mon night, reach from SE Louisiana to near Tampico, Mexico by early Tue morning, and move back toward the coast of Texas Tue night into Wed. CARIBBEAN SEA... AS of 21Z, a stationary front extends from the central Bahamas to Camaguey Cuba to the Cayman Islands to 19N78W and transitions to a dissipating front at that point to 16N87W. Latest scatterometer and nearby observations show moderate to fresh winds from 21N84W to near the coast of Honduras 16N84W. In the upper levels, upper level diffluence is noted over the western Caribbean. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted from 16N-18N between 84W-88W. In the SW Caribbean, scattered showers extend out to 90 nm from the coasts of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama from 09N-12N between 82W-84W. This activity is influenced by the East Pacific monsoon trough. East of 77W, the Caribbean is relatively quiet, with the exception of scattered showers over Cuba and Hispaniola. The front is forecast to dissipate on Sun. Expect fresh to strong winds and building seas across the eastern and central Caribbean through Tue, with seas of 10 or 11 ft near the coast of Colombia. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front enters the forecast area over the W Atlantic from 30N66W to 26N71W, where it becomes stationary with a 1013 mb low pressure. The stationary front continues to the central Bahamas and into the NW Caribbean Sea. A 1013 mb surface low is centered just SE of the front near 25N72W at 2100 UTC, and a surface trough extends south-southwestward from the low to 20N74W. Numerous moderate to isolated strong convection extends outward to 180 nm E-NE of the surface low. Northeast of this convection, scattered moderate convection associated with the front extends about 60 nm NW of the front and 100 nm SE of the front north of 30N east of 60W. A 1024 mb high is over the central Atlantic near 29N45W. A cold front is over the E Atlantic from 30N12W to 22N28W and dissipating at that point to 22N36W. Scattered showers are along and out to 60 nm southeast of the front. A cold front extends from 31N65W to a 1013 mb low pres located near 25.5N71.5W then continues as stationary front across the SE Bahamas to eastern Cuba. The front combined with the weak low is generating scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms within about 90 nm E of front/low, and fresh to strong winds mainly N of 24N. Expect the front to become stationary from 31N64W to the SE Bahamas to E Cuba tonight. Then, the front will gradually dissipate through Sun night. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Torres