000 AXNT20 KNHC 301206 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 706 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1145 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING... Strong to near gale force trade winds will prevail across the south central Caribbean through Thu, increasing to gale force along the NW coast of Colombia late each night through the middle of each morning before diminishing. 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 06N11W to 03N20W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 02N40W to 0N49W. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm either side of the ITCZ between 14W and 43W. GULF OF MEXICO... A warm front extends from the western Florida panhandle SW to 29N88W where it transitions to a stationary front that continues along 27N94W to the SW Gulf coast of Mexico near 20N96W. Although there is no significant convection associated with the front, dense fog is being reported west of the boundary, over the NW Gulf waters. Latest sactterometer data depict fresh to strong winds along the NE coast of Mexico, however seas are to 6 ft at the time. Gentle to moderate SE winds prevail elsewhere ahead of the front. 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. Otherwise, fresh to strong easterly trades are forecast elsewhere through this morning, then moderate to fresh trades are expected through Thu. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1026 mb high centered near 27N62W covers the waters of the SW N Atlc and central Atlc supporting fair weather and light to gentle winds N of 23N W of 45W. South of 23N, the gradient slightly tightens with lower pressure in the Caribbean, thus supporting moderate NE to E winds. Over the NE waters, a cold front extends from 30N26W to 20N35W where it starts to dissipate. Isolated showers are within 90 nm either side of the front mainly north of of 27N. 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 $$ Ramos