000 AXNT20 KNHC 211718 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 118 PM EDT Sun Apr 21 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1715 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic waters near 08N13W to 03N19W. The ITCZ continues from 03N19W to the coast of Brazil near 03S40W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 60 nm of the ITCZ. GULF OF MEXICO... 1021 mb surface high is centered near 31N88W. With this, surface ridging prevails across the basin. Light to gentle winds are noted near the high center while moderate to locally fresh return flow prevails W of 95W. The high pressure will remain across the Gulf waters through mid-week before retreating eastward. This will enable for the next cold front to move into the NW Gulf on Thursday. A thermal surface trough will develop near the NW Yucatan Peninsula during the evening hours and drift westward across the SW Gulf where it will eventually dissipate during the morning hours. Fresh to locally strong N to NE winds will accompany this trough each night into the early morning hours. CARIBBEAN SEA... A weakening stationary front extends from central Cuba near 21N78W to 17N83W. Mainly low clouds with some shower activity are associated with this frontal boundary, forecast to dissipate later today. Patches of low level moisture embedded in the trade winds flow are noted elsewhere across the basin. Mainly moderate northerly winds follows the front. Moderate to fresh trade winds are noted in scatterometer data over the eastern and the south- central Caribbean, and also across the waters E of the Lesser Antilles. Moderate to fresh trade winds will prevail across the Caribbean and the Tropical Atlantic, with the exception of fresh to strong winds near the coast of Colombia. Trades will slowly diminish through Wednesday night, then increasing back slightly towards the end of next week. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A stationary front enters the forecast area near 31N72W, then continues SW across the central Bahamas into central Cuba. Scattered showers are noted along the front mainly north of 27N. A surface trough is analyzed W of the front, extending from 30N76W to 26N77W. Moderate to fresh southerly winds are ahead of the front, while moderate westerlies prevail W of the front and trough. The front is expected to gradually dissipate during the next 24 hours. The remnants of the front will linger along 70W through much of the week. Farther east, a 1016 mb surface low is centered near 29N46W. Another weakening front enters the forecast waters from 31N39W to 20N45W as a cold front, then continues as a stationary front to 21N56W. This system is generating scattered showers and isolated and thunderstorms N of 25N between 38W-50W. In addition, this low is producing gale force winds just N of the forecast region, and fresh to strong northerly winds over the forecast waters N of 27N between 40W and 50W based on recent scatterometer data. An altimeter pass indicates sea heights of up to 14 ft near the low center. The low pressure is forecast to meander near 26N50W over the next 24-48 hours. Its associated front will dissipate over the next 24 hours. The pressure gradient between the low and high pressure to the north will keep an area of fresh to strong winds roughly N of 26N between 40W and 60W today and Monday. A surface ridge dominates the remainder of the basin. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ ERA