000 AXNT20 KNHC 270001 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 701 PM EST Wed Feb 26 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2330 UTC. ...GULF OF MEXICO STORM WARNING... A very strong cold front is currently moving across the Gulf of Mexico. Currently, the front extends from the Florida Big Bend to the central Bay of Campeche. Recent scatterometer data depicts strong to gale force winds behind the front, while the stations in Tampico and Veracruz are reporting sustained winds of 35 kt with gusts to 45 kt. Storm conditions have started offshore Veracruz this evening and continue through late tonight. The front is forecast to reach from Ft Myers, FL to the Yucatan Peninsula this evening with a large area of gale force winds behind it, and seas of 15 to 18 ft over the SW Gulf. The front is expected to move SE of the area tonight. High pressure will build in the wake of the front across the Gulf waters with winds and seas gradually diminishing by Thu. 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. ...HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL IN NORTHERN HONDURAS... The strong cold front now moving across the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to enter the NW Caribbean tonight. Heavy rainfall will likely affect northern Honduras and NE Nicaragua Thursday through Saturday in association with the frontal boundary. The heavy rain in Honduras could lead to significant flash flooding and mudslides. Locally heavy rain is also forecast through Thursday in north-central Guatemala and over the southeastern portions of the Mexican state of Veracruz and northern Chiapas. However, the greatest threat for flooding is over northern Honduras, where persistent northerly flow will bring abundant moisture. Please monitor the latest forecasts from your local or national meteorological service for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from 07N12W to 04N19W. The ITCZ continues from 04N19W to 01S45W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 120 nm on either sides of the ITCZ between 25W-45W. GULF OF MEXICO... Refer to the section above for details on the Storm and Gale Warnings in effect for the basin. A cold front extends from 30N84W to 24N88W to 18N94W. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are noted along the front. Surface ridging is building in the wake of the front across the basin. To the east, a 1012 mb surface low is centered near 28N82W, with a trough extending northeast from 31N78W. The front will quickly move east-southeast across the remainder of the eastern Gulf tonight to southeast of the area by late tonight. The storm/gale conditions will gradually diminish through Thu night as the high pressure builds across the basin and shifts eastward to the NE Gulf by the weekend. Prior to that, another cold front will sweep across the NE Gulf Fri night and Sat. The high pressure will shift to east of NE Florida by Mon afternoon. This will allow for fresh to strong return flow to develop over the western Gulf beginning late Sat and spreading to the central Gulf by early next week. CARIBBEAN SEA... High pressure north and east of the Caribbean, in combination with low pressure in South America, will maintain strong northeast to east winds pulsing each night through the weekend off the coast of Colombian. The cold front that is currently over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, will enter the NW Caribbean tonight. The front will become stationary this weekend, extending from Hispaniola to Costa Rica. Fresh to strong N winds are expected in the wake of the front across the Caribbean during the weekend. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A surface trough extends from a 1012 mb low centered over 28N82W to 31N77W. Scattered showers are noted in the vicinity of the trough over the west Atlantic mainly west of 77W. To the east, a 1024 mb high is centered near 31N57W. A stationary front extends from 31N43W to 24N48W to 23N57W. A 1014 mb low has developed south of the front near 19N57W, with trough extending from the low to 13N63W. Scattered showers are noted with the low. A surface trough extends from 25N39W to 17N40W with no significant convection associated to it. Strong SW winds are expected over NE of the Bahamas tonight, in advance of a cold front that will move off the SE U.S. this evening. Strong NW wind are forecast behind the front across the west Atlantic on Thu. The front will slow down as it moves E of the Turks and Caicos Islands and into Hispaniola into the weekend. It is likely that a reinforcing cold front may bring strong NW winds to the areas that are to the north of 25N during the upcoming weekend. $$ ERA