000 AXNT20 KNHC 312335 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 635 PM EST Thu Jan 31 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2330 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURE... Please refer to the METEO-FRANCE High Seas Forecast, that is listed on the website: WWW.METEOFRANCE.COM/PREVISION-METEO- MARINE/BULLETIN/GRANDLARGE/METAREA2. The 24-hr Forecast Outlook shows gale-force winds for the areas Agadir and Tarfaya. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough emerges from the coast of Liberia near 07N12W to 00N25W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 01S35W to the coast of Brazil near 03S44W. Scattered showers within 200 nm on either side of the monsoon trough between 10W-25W. GULF OF MEXICO... A surface trough is over the W Gulf extending from 26N97W to 19N95W. Scattered showers are developing east of the trough mainly N of 25N and W of 90W. Surface ridging prevails across the remainder of the basin, anchored by a 1031 mb high centered over southern Georgia. Moderate to fresh easterly winds prevail across the basin, as noted in scatterometer data. A trough or old frontal boundary over the western Gulf will linger through the end of the week, with a weak low pressure area possibly developing along it, before shifting NE on Sat . Elsewhere, high pressure ridging centered over SE CONUS will linger through early next week. CARIBBEAN SEA... Moderate to fresh tradewinds prevail over the Caribbean with strongest winds along the coast of N Colombia. Patches of broken low clouds and scattered showers are moving W with the trades over the E Caribbean affecting the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. High pressure will strengthen in the western Atlantic during the next few days. Expect increasing tradewinds and building seas over most of the south-central Caribbean. The strongest winds will be near the coast of Colombia each night through Monday night. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends across the W Atlantic from 31N60W to 26N67W, then becomes stationary from that point to 21N76W. Scattered showers are noted along the fronts. To the E, a surface trough extends from 23N46W to 16N46W. Another trough extends from 15N38W to 13N40W. These features are in an area where an upper-level low prevails, centered near 20N41W. Weak troughing across the western Bahamas to S Florida will drift NW and N by the end of the week, with a weak low pressure area possibly developing along it, before shifting NE through the upcoming weekend. Meanwhile, the frontal boundary from 28N65W to eastern Cuba will weaken through Sat, becoming diffuse. High pressure will prevail on either side of the boundary. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA