000 AXNT20 KNHC 282359 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 659 PM 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2345 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING... Gale-force winds are forecast along the coast of Colombia each night through Tuesday 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 31N36W to 19N59W. Gale-force winds are north of 30N between 42W and 48W with seas 10 to 16 ft. Expect the front to move east over the next 18 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 08N13W to 04N20W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 01S44W. Scattered moderate convection is from 00N-04N between 23W-42W. GULF OF MEXICO... Radar imagery shows a squall line from central Georgia to the Florida Panhandle near 31N87W to N Gulf of Mexico near 26N92W. Scattered moderate convection is N of 27N between 85W-92W. A stationary front extends from S Louisiana near 30N88W to 26N96W to S of Tampico Mexico near 20N97W. 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 meander across the NW gulf waters through Sun night. A secondary front will move off the Texas coast early Mon and overrun the stationary front with the merged front reaching from the Mississippi Delta to Veracruz Mexico on Tue, and from the Port of Tampa to the Yucatan Peninsula on Wed. Strong to near gale force northerly winds are forecast across the western gulf waters on Tue night, increasing to minimal gale force along the coast of Veracruz Mexico on Wed. 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 Wed, increasing to gale force along the NW coast of Colombia late each night through mid morning. Fresh to strong easterly trades forecast elsewhere through Sun then moderate to fresh trades expected next week. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Refer to the section above for details about the Gale Warning for the central Atlantic. A 1035 mb high is centered well N of the area over the W Atlantic near 41N65W. 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 23N50W to 20N60W, then becomes stationary from that point to 20N70W. Scattered showers are within 90 nm of the front mainly north of 30N. A 1033 mb high is centered well N of the area over the E Atlantic near 42N15W. Over the west Atlantic, a ridge extends from 31N70W to Central Florida with fresh to strong winds across the entire area. The pressure gradient will relax during the upcoming weekend as the ridge shifts S to along 28N allowing a weak cold front to move slowly into the northern NW waters on Mon. The front will stall on Tue and gradually dissipate. Another cold front will move off the N Florida coast on Wed. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Formosa/ERA