000 AXNT20 KNHC 242259 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2300 UTC Fri Apr 24 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 2300 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from 07.5N12.5W to 04N16W. The ITCZ continues from 04N16W to 02S28W to the coast of Brazil near 02S44W. Scattered moderate convection is from 02S-07N between 11W and 49W. GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from the Florida panhandle to near 28N87W then stationary to 27N94W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection was noted E of the front to Florida and N of 27N. A surface trough extends from 26N89W to low pres near 22N92W to 19N93W. Moderate to fresh winds prevail over the SE Gulf, with gentle to moderate winds prevailing elsewhere. Seas are in the 5-7 ft range over the eastern Gulf, and 2-4 ft over the western Gulf. The cold front will stall across the NE Gulf tonight, then lift northward early Sat. Strong thunderstorms ahead of the front will produce gusty winds and locally higher seas over the eastern Gulf through tonight. A second cold front will move into the NW Gulf late tonight, cross the northern Gulf Sat and Sat night, then reach from near Tampa, Florida to the SW Gulf on Sun. A high pressure ridge building in the wake of this front will pass eastward across the Gulf Sun night through Tue night. CARIBBEAN SEA... Fresh to strong winds prevail across the south central Caribbean as well as the western Caribbean. Moderate to fresh winds prevail elsewhere. Isolated showers are embedded within the tradewind flow. Seas are in the 8-10 ft range over the south central Caribbean, 6-8 ft over the western Caribbean, and 4-6 ft elsewhere. A high pressure ridge across the western Atlantic will maintain fresh to strong trade winds over the south-central Caribbean through Tue night. Strong E to SE winds will pulse at night over the Gulf of Honduras through this weekend. Elsewhere,moderate to fresh trades will prevail across the region. Smoke from agricultural fires over Central America could reduce visibility over the Gulf of Honduras for the next several days. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front has reached the SE coast of the United States. Fresh to near gale winds prevail over the NW waters ahead of the front, where scattered moderate to strong showers are also noted. A stationary front extends from 31N51W to 25N61W. Moderate to fresh tradewinds prevail S of 20N, with isolated showers embedded within the tradewind flow. Gentle to moderate winds prevail elsewhere across the discussion waters. The cold front near the SE U.S. coast will stall near 31N and lift northward as a warm front on Sat. The fresh to near gale S to SW ahead of the front will diminish tonight. Strong thunderstorms ahead of the front will produce gusty winds and locally higher seas offshore of Florida through Sat. Another cold front will move off the SE U.S. coast Sat night, cross the northern waters Sun through Mon, then extend from near Bermuda to the north-central coast of Cuba by Mon night. Strong winds will pulse along the northern coast of Hispaniola tonight and Sat night. $$ AL/A Reinhart