000 AXNT20 KNHC 281157 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 657 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1115 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING... Gale-force winds are forecast along the coast of Colombia each night through Tue night. 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 extends from 31N41W to 25N47W to 22N55W. Gale-force winds are north of 30N between 47W and 53W with seas 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 04N21W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 01N30W to 01S45W. Scattered moderate convection is from 00N-07N between 15W-21W, and within 120 nm of the ITCZ between 30W-42W. GULF OF MEXICO... Radar imagery shows a squall line from central Alabama to the coast of SE Louisiana near 27N91W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is N of 27N between 88W-92W. A cold front extends from SE Texas near 30N93W to Tampico Mexico near 22N98W. Scattered showers are within 30 nm of the front. Scatterometer data depicts 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 Sun night, then dissipate. Another cold front will enter the NW Gulf on Mon and Tue. 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 S central Caribbean through Tue night, increasing to gale force every day along the NW coast of Colombia during the late night to mid morning hours. Easterly trades will increase elsewhere across the entire region through Tue as high pres builds over the western Atlantic. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1037 mb high is centered well N of the area over the W Atlantic near 41N66W. Scattered showers are over the W Atlantic W of 70W to include the Bahamas. A cold front is over the central Atlantic from 32N39W to 24N50W to 22N55W, then becomes stationary from that point to 21N70W. Scattered showers are within 90 nm of the front mainly north of 30N. A 1032 mb high is centered well N of the area over the E Atlantic near 40N16W. Over the west Atlantic, strengthening high pressure N of the area will bring increasing winds and building seas through Fri. The high center will shift E and weaken as a weak cold front stalls over the NW waters Sat night and Sun. A ridge will extend from near 29N65W to central Florida Sun night through Tue night. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa