000 AXNT20 KNHC 230512 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1212 AM EST Sun Dec 23 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0500 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...Caribbean Gale Warning... Northeast gale-force winds are forecast to pulse each night through the weekend from 11N to 13N between 73W and 77W, with seas ranging from 9 to 12 feet. See the latest High Seas Forecast product under AWIPS/WHO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Sierra Leone near 07N11W to 05N14W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 03N30W to 02S44W. Scattered moderate convection is noted south of 06N between 20W-48W. GULF OF MEXICO... Surface ridging prevails over the basin, anchored by a 1023 mb high centered over northern Florida. Gentle to moderate winds are observed across the Gulf as ridge remains in control. No significant precipitation activity is observed at this time. The ridge will shift southeast through Sunday. A weak cold front will move into the northwest waters on Sun, stall from the Florida Big Bend to the Texas Coastal Bend on Monday, and gradually dissipate through early Tuesday. CARIBBEAN SEA... A stationary front extends from the Windward Passage to 15N80W. Broken to overcast clouds and scattered showers are seen along the front and extending to 180 nm west of the front. Elsewhere, scattered showers are seen over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the southeast Caribbean. The central Caribbean between 66W-75W is free of any significant shower activity, with partly cloudy skies. Strong to near gale force trades will continue across the S-central Caribbean during the day through the week, increasing to gale-force along the coast of Colombia during the overnight hours. The stationary front over the west Caribbean will gradually dissipate through Sunday. Fresh to locally strong northeast flow will continue across the west Caribbean through late Monday. Fresh to locally strong southeast flow will develop across the northwest Caribbean on Tuesday night. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front over the western Atlantic extends from 31N62W to southern Bahamas near 22N72W, then transitions to a stationary front from 22N72W to the Windward Passage. Scattered showers are observed along the front. To the east, a pair of surface troughs are depicted in scatterometer data. The first extends from 31N32W to 28N35W. The second one extends from 28N32W to 22N34W. Scattered moderate convection prevails in the vicinity of these troughs north of 24N between 26W-36W. The cold front overt he west Atlantic will slow down and become weaker on Sunday. The remnants of the front will drift NW on Mon and Tue. Moderate to fresh easterlies are expected S of 28N on Tue, increasing fresh to locally strong on Wed and Thu. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA