000 AXNT20 KNHC 271714 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1213 PM EST Thu Dec 27 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 1715 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING... Gale-force winds are forecast along the coast of N Colombia. Gale will start this evening 28/0000 UTC and be from 11N to 14N between 72W and 78W with seas 10 to 15 ft. Please refer to the High Seas forecast product under the AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...GALE WARNING IN THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC... A cold front will extends from 31N41W to 24N46W in 18 hours on 28/0600 UTC. With this, gale-force winds are expected north of 30N between 47W and 53W. Seas in this area will range between 10 to 15 ft. Expect the front to move E over the next 24 hours with gale force winds and seas up to 22 ft. Please refer to the High Seas Forecast product under the AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the prime meridian and 04N to 05N10W. The ITCZ continues from 05N10W to 01N30W to the coast of Brazil near 01N50W. Isolated moderate convection is from 00N-02N between 02W-10W. Scattered moderate convection is from 00N-06N between 12W-21W. Isolated moderate convection is from 00N-04N between 25W-49W. GULF OF MEXICO... As of 27/1500 UTC, a cold front is inland over S Texas. A prefrontal squall line extends from SW Louisiana near 30N93W and extends S to the NW Gulf at 29N94W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is within 45 nm of the squall line. A surface trough continues along the Texas coast from 29N94W to 28N96W to 26N97W. Scattered showers are within 30 nm of the trough. 15-20 kt northerly winds are N of the trough. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh southeasterly winds prevail across the basin, as noted in the latest scatterometer data. Radar imagery shows widely scattered moderate convection over the northeast Gulf north of 26N and E of 90W. A cold front will move off the Texas coast today and stall and meander across the NW gulf waters through the upcoming weekend, then move E again early next week. A trough will develop over the western Yucatan Peninsula each afternoon, move W across the SW gulf during the overnight hours and lose identity by late each morning. CARIBBEAN SEA... Refer to the section above for details about the Gale Warning for the south-central Caribbean. Scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh trades across the remainder of the area. Low- topped trade wind showers are quickly moving across the basin. Strong to near gale force trade winds will prevail across the S central Caribbean through Tue, increasing to gale force along the NW coast of Colombia late each night through mid morning. Trade winds will increase elsewhere across the entire region through Tue as high pres builds over the western Atlantic. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A dissipating cold front passes through 31N43W to 27N50W to 23N70W. Scattered showers are within 90 nm of the front. Another reinforcing cold front is N of 32N moving SE. A 1031 mb high is centered over the northeast Atlantic near 39N18W. Over the W Atlantic, strengthening high pressure N of the area will increase winds and build seas through Fri. The high center will shift E and weaken as a weak cold stalls over the NW waters on Sat night into Sun. A ridge will extend from 29N65W to central Florida on Mon. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa