000 AXNT20 KNHC 201026 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 626 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 1015 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coast of Sierra Leone near 07N12W to 02N22W. The ITCZ continues from 02N22W to 02S43W. Scattered showers are noted within 90 nm north of the ITCZ mainly west of 32W. 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 surface ridge across the northern Gulf will support fresh SE winds this morning. A slow-moving cold front will reach the NW Gulf tonight, then stall and weaken over the northern Gulf through the weekend. Strong NE to E winds will develop each evening north of the Yucatan Peninsula, and weaken overnight as a thermal trough moves offshore. CARIBBEAN SEA... 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 north of the area will support fresh to strong winds in the south-central Caribbean through Mon 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 55W. A slow moving cold front extends across the central Atlantic from 31N42W to 23N48W. A surface trough extends south of the front from 21N49W to 11N55W. 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 cold front from 31N44W to 28N46W with no significant weather associated with it. Surface ridging extends across the eastern Atlantic. Strengthening high pressure over the west-central Atlantic will increase winds and seas mainly S of 25N through tonight. A weak cold front drifting SE from the coast of Georgia this weekend will stall east of northern Florida Mon night, then lift north as a warm front on Tue. The low/front over the central Atlantic will push south through the next 24 hours enhancing winds and seas north of 27N between 40W-48W. $$ ERA