000 AXNT20 KNHC 302312 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 712 PM EDT Thu Apr 30 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 2230 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Atlantic Gale Warning: Meteo France has issued a gale warning for the Agadir area through 01/0000 UTC. For more information, please visit the website http://weather.gmdss.org/II.html ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal sections of Sierra Leone near 08N13W to 06N17W. The ITCZ extends from 06N17W to 02N29W to the coast of Brazil near 02S44W. Scattered moderate convection is noted within 150 nm of the ITCZ west of 24W. GULF OF MEXICO... A deep upper-level trough over the eastern U.S. has pushed a cold front into the SE Gulf, extending from the SW coast of Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula. The latest radar imagery, satellite, and lightning data shows moderate to strong convection over the Straits of Florida, with scattered showers closer to the front. Meanwhile, surface high pressure is building across the western Gulf this evening. Winds are generally gentle to moderate between the ridge and the cold front, with seas ranging from 3-6 ft. Earlier satellite imagery showed lingering smoke over the Bay of Campeche, which could reduce visibility at times. The cold front will continue heading SE to exit the basin by Fri morning. High pres will settle over the NE Gulf behind the front Fri night through early next week. Smoke due to agricultural fires over southern Mexico could affect the far southern Gulf during the next several days. CARIBBEAN SEA... Stable atmospheric conditions prevail across much of the Caribbean this evening. Fresh to locally strong trades are in the south-central Caribbean near the coast of Colombia and Venezuela. Earlier altimeter data showed seas to 8 ft downstream of the strongest winds in the southern Caribbean. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate trades continue across the basin. Scattered showers are seen in radar imagery near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Moderate to heavy smoke was noted earlier in the Gulf of Honduras, which may reduce visibility over these waters. A weak high pres ridge over the western Atlc will maintain moderate to fresh trade winds over the central Caribbean through Tue night. Winds elsewhere in the basin will be light to moderate. Smoke from agricultural fires in Central America will continue to reduce visibility over the western Gulf of Honduras. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please see the Special Features section above about a Gale Warning for Agadir in the Meteo France waters. A cold front extends over the western Atlantic from 32N78W to 29N81W. Scattered moderate convection is noted in satellite imagery ahead of the front N of 25N W of 74W. Strong southerly winds prevail ahead of the front over the waters N of 28N, with corresponding seas running 8-13 ft. Another cold front is weakening over the central Atlantic from 32N41W to 24N61W, with fresh to strong SW flow ahead of this front N of 28N. It is followed by a reinforcing cold front that is dropping southward and reaches along 31N. High pressure centered near 31N22W supports moderate to fresh trades across much of the eastern Atlantic. The first cold front will continue E and reach from Bermuda to the south central Bahamas Sat, before weakening and becoming stationary from near 27N65W to the southern Bahamas to eastern Cuba Sun. Weak high pres will settle over the northern waters Mon ahead of the next front to exit the SE United States. $$ B Reinhart