000 AXNT20 KNHC 170557 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1257 AM EST Mon Feb 17 2020 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 0545 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...Caribbean Sea Gale Warning... Gale force winds are expected near the coast of Colombia at night during the next couple of nights, with winds to near gale force during the day. The latest ASCAT pass from 17/0152 UTC shows near gale force winds north of the coast of Colombia from 10N-12N between 74W-77W. Sea heights will range from 8 to 13 ft. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast, under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC, or see the website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through coastal Liberia near 05N09W to 03N13W. The ITCZ extends from 03N13W to the coast of Brazil near 03S38W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is seen along the monsoon trough and ITCZ and extends from the Equator to 03N between 07W-37W. GULF OF MEXICO... At 170300 UTC, a 1016 mb low was located off the Mississippi coast near 29N88W. A stationary front extends west of the low to South Central Texas near 27N97W, and to the east along the FL Panhandle to near 29N83w. Scattered showers and isolated tstorms are seen along the stationary front in the NE Gulf, N of 28N and E of 88W. Broken clouds and isolated showers are seen from 23N-30N between 84W-97W. Areas of fog and low ceilings are observed in the latest observations near the coastal areas of Louisiana westward to 98W. Forecast shows the potential for dense fog tonight with Dense Fog Warnings in effect through the early morning hours. A trough is in the western Bay of Campeche from 23N94W top 19N95W. ASCAT data and surface observations depict gentle winds across most of the basin, with moderate winds in the NE Gulf. Seas range from 2 to 5 ft. A cold front over NW Gulf will stall over the northern waters tonight then lift northward on Mon. The next cold front is forecast to enter the NW Gulf Tue night, then move slowly across the Gulf region Wed through Thu. Reinforcing cold air will push the cold front across the Gulf waters late Thu into Fri. Gale force conditions are possible west of the front offshore of Tampico, Mexico late Thu night, and offshore of Veracruz, Mexico on Fri. CARIBBEAN SEA... Mid- to upper-level cyclonic flow over the far eastern Caribbean Sea continues to weaken. Scattered showers linger across the Leeward Islands and Virgin Islands, as well as the waters to the south and south of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Comparatively drier air is seen over the central and western portions of the basin. The latest ASCAT pass shows fresh to strong trades south of 16N between 68W-79W, with near gale-force winds near the coast of Colombia from 10N-12N between 74W-77W. Gentle to moderate trades are noted across the NW and eastern Caribbean. Seas near Colombia are up to 9 ft with 3-5 ft elsewhere. High pressure north of the area will maintain fresh to strong trade winds elsewhere across the central Caribbean through Fri night. Winds will pulse to gale force off the coast of Colombia each night through Thu night. N to NE swell will move across the Tropical N Atlantic waters Mon night through Thu before stating to subside Fri. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1020 mb low is located near 30N60W with a stationary front extending southwest from it to 26N72W. A shear line extends westward from that point to near the Florida Keys near 24N80W. Showers are seen along the front. Stationary front over the Gulf of Mexico extends across the Florida Peninsula into the western Atlantic near the FL and Georgia border. A surface trough is seen to the south across Florida. This trough is producing scattered showers and tstorms from central Florida northward into the Atlantic waters to 20N and west of 78W. Scattered showers are present near the front along the coast. Two troughs are analyzed in the west- central Atlantic: one from 27N56W to 21N62W, and the other from 25N48W to 20N50W. Broken clouds and isolated showers are associated with both of these features. High pressure dominates the rest of the Atlantic. Moderate to fresh winds are seen on the north side of the stationary front/shear line with seas up to 8 ft. High pres will prevail over the forecast waters through midweek. The next cold front will move off the SE U.S. coast on Wed and stall over the northern waters on Thu. Reinforcing cold air will push the front southward Thu night into Fri. Gale conditions are possible W of the front across the north waters Thu night and Fri. $$ MMT