000 AXNT20 KNHC 102351 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 651 PM EST Mon Dec 10 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. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...Atlantic Gale Warning... A cold front will continue moving across the west Atlantic through on Tuesday. Gale-force winds are expected north of 30N between 69W-73W. Return flow will dominate the area for the end of the week, with another potentially strong cold front impacting the northwest portion by late Friday. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Liberia near 06N10W to 04N20W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 00N27W to the coast of Brazil near 00N50W. Scattered moderate convection is noted south of 04N between 34W-50W. GULF OF MEXICO... A 1030 mb high pressure over western Texas continues to build across the Gulf of Mexico with cold air advecting into the basin. The latest scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh northwest winds across the Gulf waters. No significant convection is noted at this time. High pressure will prevail through midweek. The next cold front will move into the northwest Gulf on Thursday, quickly reaching the eastern Gulf late that night, pushing southeast across the basin Fri Night. Strong winds will follow the front, possibly reaching gale force Thu night over the northwest Gulf. CARIBBEAN SEA... Moderate to fresh trade winds prevail over the eastern and central Caribbean with strongest winds near the coast of Colombia. In the northwest Caribbean, a cold front extends from western Cuba near 22N81W to to 18N88W. A surface trough is located from 21N79W to 18N80W with scattered showers. Subsidence and dry air cover the remainder of the Caribbean. Fresh to strong trade winds will prevail in south central Caribbean through the end of the week, pulsing to near-gale off the coast of Colombia at night. The cold front in the west Caribbean will reach from near the Windward Passage to eastern Honduras by Tuesday night where it will stall and dissipate through Thursday. Another cold front is expected to enter the northwest Caribbean by Friday night. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends over the west Atlantic from 31N68W to 23N80W. Scattered showers are noted along the front. Gusty winds are occurring with this line of convection. Farther east, another cold front is over the central Atlantic from 31N38W to 27N44W with scattered showers. A surface trough is over the east Atlantic from 29N27W to 23N22W. The cold front will continue moving east across the basin through mid-week. Gale-force winds are possible north of 30N between 69W-73W. Return flow will dominate for the end of the week, with another potentially strong cold front impacting the northwest portion of the basin by late Friday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA