000 AXNT20 KNHC 280508 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1208 AM EST Fri Dec 28 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... Gale-force winds are forecast along the coast of Colombia each night through the next 7 days. The gale winds will cover the area from 11N to 13N between 72W and 78W with seas 10 to 16 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 12 hours on 28/1200 UTC. With this, gale-force winds are expected north of 30N between 45W and 50W. Seas in this area will range between 10 to 15 ft. Expect the front to move east over the next 24 hours with gale-force winds and seas up to 23 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 07N11W to 02N25W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 00N49W. Scattered showers are from 00N-08N between 14W-21W and along the ITCZ between 30W-42W. GULF OF MEXICO... A stationary front extends across the coast of Texas and northeast Mexico. A pre-frontal trough extends from 29N93W to 28N95W. Scattered showers are within 45 nm of the trough. Scatterometer data depicts gentle to moderate winds over the western half of the basin while moderate to fresh winds are noted over the eastern half. The front will linger over the northwest gulf waters through the upcoming weekend, then move east as a cold front early next week. A trough will develop daily over the western Yucatan Peninsula during the afternoon, move W across the SW gulf at night and lose identity by late 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 south central Caribbean through next week, increasing to gale- force along the coast of Colombia late each night through mid morning. Trade winds will increase elsewhere across the entire region through Tuesday as high pressure builds over the western Atlantic. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front passes through 32N40W to 23N53, then becomes stationary from that point to 21N70W. Scattered showers are within 90 nm of the front mainly north of 30N. A 1033 mb high is centered over the northeast Atlantic near 39N16W. Over the west Atlantic, strengthening high pressure north of the area will increase winds and build seas through Friday. The high center will shift east and weaken as a weak cold stalls over the northwest waters this weekend. A ridge will extend from 29N65W to central Florida on Monday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA