000 AXNT20 KNHC 200522 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 122 AM EDT Fri Mar 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 0515 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...SOUTH-CENTRAL CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING... Gale force NE to E winds are expected near the coast of Colombia tonight, with seas ranging between 9-11 ft. These conditions will diminish by early Fri. 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. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coast of Sierra Leone near 07N12W to 03N19W. The ITCZ continues from 03N19W to 03S39W. Scattered showers are noted within 90 nm north of the ITCZ mainly west of 30W. GULF OF MEXICO... Mid- to upper-level ridging prevails over the Gulf of Mexico, leading to mostly fair weather across the basin. Patchy fog is reported in the NW Gulf. Gentle to moderate anticyclonic winds prevail across the basin except over the Florida Straits, where moderate to fresh easterly winds are noted. Seas across the basin range between are 3 to 6 ft. Low pressure over northern Mexico and a strong W Atlantic ridge will support fresh to locally strong return flow, mainly across the western Gulf, today. A slow-moving cold front will reach the NW Gulf tonight, then stall and weaken through the weekend. Strong NE to E winds will develop each evening N and W of the Yucatan Peninsula, then weaken overnight as a thermal trough moves offshore. CARIBBEAN SEA... See the Special Features section for more information on the Gale Warning currently in effect for the south-central Caribbean. Mid-level troughing extends across the northern Caribbean. Scattered showers are noted across Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles. Fresh to strong easterly winds are noted south of Hispaniola across the central Caribbean, while strong winds are also noted in the Windward Passage. Moderate to fresh trades prevail across the remainder of the basin. Seas are ranging between 3 to 7 ft. A ridge extending from near Bermuda to Florida will support fresh to strong winds over the south-central Caribbean through Tue night. Strongest winds will be near the coast of Colombia each night. Fresh to strong winds will persist over the Windward Passage and south of Hispaniola through Sun. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Surface ridge prevails across the west Atlantic mainly west of 60W. A slow moving cold front extends across the central Atlantic from 31N43W to 23N48W. A surface trough extends south of the front from 23N48W to 09N55W. Showers are moving along and within 75 nm east of the front, with seas of 9-12 ft. Another surface trough is analyzed west of the front from 31N44W to 28N47W with no significant weather associated with it. Surface ridging extends across the eastern Atlantic. A strong high pressure ridge extending from Bermuda to Florida will maintain winds and seas S of 25N through Fri night. A weak cold front drifting SE from the coast of Georgia this weekend will stall near 30N by Mon night, then lift N as a warm front. $$ ERA