000 AXNT20 KNHC 300505 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1205 AM EST Sun Dec 30 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 mid-week. The gale winds will cover the area from 11N-13N between 73W-76W with seas 12 to 14 ft. Winds are forecast to go below gale-force in the afternoon hours, and resume again by 0000 UTC. 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 06N10W to 03N14W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 02N30W to 01S46W. Scattered moderate convection is from 00N-03N between 00W-12W. Widely scattered moderate convection is from 00N-05N between 20W-42W. GULF OF MEXICO... A stationary front extends from the Florida Panhandle near 30N85W to 29N88W to 26N95W to north of Vera Cruz Mexico near 20N97W. Scattered showers are within 60 nm of the front. Scatterometer data depicts moderate to fresh winds over the northwest gulf waters north of the front, while gentle to moderate winds prevail elsewhere. The stationary front will weaken with the remnants drifting W and gradually dissipating through Sunday night. A cold front will move off the Texas coast around sunrise on Monday, reach from the Mississippi Delta to Veracruz Mexico on Tuesday and from the Florida Big Bend to the Bay of Campeche on Wednesday. Strong to near-gale northerly winds are forecast to develop across the western gulf waters on Tuesday night, increasing to gale force along the coast of Mexico near Veracruz on Wednesday night. 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 continue to quickly move across the basin. Little change is expected through early next week. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1023 mb high is centered over the W Atlantic near 30N80W. To the east, a 1027 mb surface high is centered over the central Atlantic near 30N60W. Scattered showers are noted north of 30N between 60W-72W just south of a cold front that extends north of the area. A cold front is over the eastern Atlantic from 31N29W to 21N37W to 17N49W, then becomes stationary to 17N60W. Scattered moderate convection is within 75 nm E of the front mainly north of of 28N. Surface ridging prevails over the remainder of the basin. The ridge over the west Atlantic will shift south with fresh to strong trades prevailing through the weekend. A cold front will move slowly into the northern Atlantic waters on Sunday. The front will stall and gradually dissipate from 28N65W to 31N74W through Monday night. Fresh southerly flow will set up north of the ridge on Tuesday ahead of a second cold front moving off the north Florida coast on Tuesday night. This second front will begin to stall from 31N74W to Central Florida on Thursday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA