254 AXNT20 KNHC 171040 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 640 AM EDT Tue Mar 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1030 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURE... ...FAR EAST ATLANTIC GALE WARNING... Gale force winds continue near the coast of Morocco in the marine zone of Agadir. Gale conditions will continue in this area through Tuesday morning. Please refer to the Meteo-France High Seas Forecast listed on their website: www.meteofrance.com /previsions-meteo-marine/bulletin/grandlarge/metarea2 for further details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal sections of Africa near 11N16W to 02N22W. The ITCZ extends from 02N22W to 03S39W. Scattered moderate convection is south of 08N and west of 20W. GULF OF MEXICO... Weak surface ridging dominates the basin supporting gentle to moderate anticyclonic winds except over the SE portion, where moderate to fresh easterly winds are depicted in scatterometer data. Patchy fog continues to be reported in the northwest Gulf mainly north of 26N and west of 89W. The patchy fog is expected to continue in the area through Wed. The surface ridge will persist through Wed also. Low pressure forming over inland Mexico will induce fresh return flow later this week. A slow moving cold front will reach the northern Gulf Fri night. Strong NE to E winds will develop each evening north of the Yucatan Peninsula, then weaken overnight as the associated trough moves offshore. CARIBBEAN SEA... Gentle to moderate NE to E winds dominate the Caribbean waters, except for fresh NE winds over the waters south of Cuba, in the Windward Passage and along the coast of Colombia. To the northeast, a surface trough extends from 19N64W to 16N63W with scattered showers. High pressure north of the area will continue supporting fresh to strong winds over the south-central Caribbean for the next several days. Gale force winds are possible near the coast of Colombia on Thu night. Strong winds will pulse in the Windward Passage and south of Hispaniola at night through Sat. Building high pressure will increase winds and seas over the NE Caribbean and east of the Leeward Islands Thu night through Sat. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Refer to the section above for details on the Gale Warning in effect over the East Atlantic. A surface trough extends across the west Atlantic from 31N74W to 27N71W. This trough is well depicted in scatterometer data, with moderate to fresh southeasterly winds prevailing east of the trough, and moderate northeasterly winds prevailing west of the trough. To the east, the tail of a cold front extends from 31N52W to 26N59W. A pre-frontal trough extends from 30N49W to 24N51W. Scattered moderate convection is present along the front and trough mainly north of 25N. Otherwise, surface ridging dominate the remainder central and eastern Atlc waters with fair weather. The trough will drift SW and dissipate later today. Strengthening high pressure north of the area will increase winds and seas south of 27N from Wed night through Sat. A cold front will move off northern Florida on Sat night. $$ ERA