000 AXNT20 KNHC 201123 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 623 AM EST Thu Feb 20 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1100 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gale Warnings are in effect for portions of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center under AWIPS/WMO headers MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC or at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for further details on the three special features mentioned below. ...CARIBBEAN SEA GALE WARNING... Gale-force winds are along the coast of N Colombia. Winds will be below gale force on 20/1200 UTC Thursday. Seas are 11-16 ft. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNING... A slow moving cold front is off the N Florida coast. This front will speed up across the NW Atlantic waters Thursday night. Gale force winds are expected N of 30N on 21/1800 UTC Friday evening. Seas will reach 18 ft. ...GULF OF MEXICO GALE WARNING... A slow moving cold front currently extends from N Florida near 29N83W to a 1017 mb low over the NW Gulf near 28N95W to Tampico Mexico near 22N98W. Gale force winds are forecast for 21/0600 UTC Thursday night, S of 24N and W of front. Seas will be 9-11 ft. The gale is expected to persist for 24 hours. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Sierra Leone near 08N12W to 04N17W. The ITCZ extends from 04N17W to 01N30W to the coast of Brazil near 03S43W. Isolated moderate convection is S of the monsoon trough from 02N-07N between 05W-20W. Widely scattered moderate convection is along the ITCZ from 04N-08S between 20W- 48W. GULF OF MEXICO... A slow moving cold front currently extends from N Florida near 29N83W to a 1017 mb low over the NW Gulf near 28N95W to Tampico Mexico near 22N98W. Scattered showers are within 90 nm of the front. 20 kt N winds are N of the front. The remainder of the Gulf has 10-15 kt SE winds with mostly fair weather. Reinforcing cold air will push the cold front in the northern Gulf across the remainder of the basin through Fri. Gale conditions are expected over the offshore waters of Tampico Mexico Thu night, and the offshore waters of Veracruz Mexico Fri and Fri evening. Strong north to northeast winds are expected elsewhere behind the front with building seas. Seas will subside Sat and Sun. A second cold front will move into the NW Gulf Mon night. CARIBBEAN SEA... Gale-force winds along the coast of N Colombia will end shortly on 20/1200 UTC. 10-30 kt tradewinds are over the remainder of the Caribbean Sea with weakest winds over the Yucatan Channel. Clusters of scattered showers are moving W with the tradewinds, S of 20N. Upper level ridging with strong subsidence is suppressing all deep convection. High pressure north of the area will support fresh to strong winds across the central Caribbean today. Winds and seas will diminish across the Caribbean and the Tropical N Atlantic through Fri. A cold front in the Gulf of Mexico will reach the Yucatan Channel Fri, and move across the NW Caribbean through Sat night with fresh to strong N winds. High pressure building north of the front will support fresh to strong winds in the Windward passage and near Cuba Sun night and Mon. ATLANTIC OCEAN... As of 20/0900 UTC, a cold front is off the N Florida coast from 31N72W to 29N81W. A prefrontal trough extends from 29N79W to 27N80W. Scattered showers are within 60 nm of the front and of the trough. A 1034 mb high is centered over the Azores near 40N29W. An upper level trough axis extends from 30N50W to 16N60W. Scattered showers are within 120 nm of the trough axis. Reinforcing cold air will push a strong cold front across the forecast area tonight through Sat night. Near gale to gale force winds are expected on both sides of the front Thu night through Fri night. Winds and seas will gradually diminish across the region Sat and Sun. $$ Formosa