000 AXNT20 KNHC 040536 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1236 AM EST Fri Jan 4 2019 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 0515 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal sections of Sierra Leone near 08N13W, to 07N16W and 04N23W. The ITCZ continues from 04N23W to 02N31W and 02N40W. Upper level SW wind flow cuts across the area of the ITCZ, along the line that runs from 06N54W beyond 10N39W. Widely scattered to scattered moderate and isolated strong rainshowers are to the east of the 10N39W-to-06N54W line. GULF OF MEXICO... The current cold front passes near Houma in Louisiana, into the north central Gulf waters near 27N91W, continuing southwestward, to the coast of Mexico near 20N97W. Broken to overcast multilayered clouds and possible rainshowers are along and to the west of the cold front. The current cold front will push eastward during the next two days. The front will reach from northern Florida to the Bay of Campeche on Friday; and from the Straits of Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday. Fresh to strong winds, and sea heights to 8 feet, will follow the front through Friday. The wind speeds and the sea heights will diminish to the west of the front, on Friday night and Saturday. CARIBBEAN SEA... Broken low level clouds and possible rainshowers are to the north of the line that runs from 12N60W to 15N70W to 17N80W. The clouds are related to stationary front that was in the Caribbean Sea at 03 January/1200 UTC. Broad surface high pressure in the west central Atlantic Ocean will maintain fresh to strong winds across much of the Caribbean Sea through Friday. The comparatively fastest wind speeds will be present during the nighttime hours near the coast of Colombia. A cold front will stall and weaken in the NW Caribbean Sea on Saturday. The wind speeds and the sea heights will diminish during the weekend as the high pressure weakens and shifts eastward. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A central Atlantic Ocean cold front passes through 32N37W to 30N40W, 28N48W, 30N58W, and 32N61W. Broken to overcast multilayered clouds and possible rainshowers are to the north of the line that passes through 32N32W to 23N40W 22N50W 25N62W and 27N70W. A stationary front passes through 32N31W to 28N33W 22N35W and 20N37W. The stationary front is dissipating from 20N37W to 16N46W. Widely scattered moderate to isolated strong rainshowers are from 19N northward between 20W and 31W. Surface high pressure in the west central Atlantic Ocean will weaken and shift eastward through Sunday. A cold front, moving off the coast of NE Florida on Friday night, will reach from Bermuda to Cuba on Saturday night, then flatten out and weaken along 23N on Sunday and Monday. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ MT