000 AXNT20 KNHC 282354 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Wed Oct 28 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... Hurricane Zeta is moving ashore across Southeast Louisiana, and is centered near 29.2N 90.6W at 2100 UTC ,or 65 nm SSW of New Orleans, moving NNE at 21 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 95 kt with gusts to 115 kt. Numerous strong convection is within 90 nm of the center in the W semicircle and within 45 nm east semicircle. Numerous moderate and scattered strong convection is elsewhere within 180 nm of the center in the NE quadrant, 150 nm SE quad, 90 nm SW quad and 120 nm NW quad. Isolated moderate convection is elsewhere within 210 nm of the center in the N semicircle and 180 nm S semicircle. Zeta will race across the New Orleans metro area in the next few hours and then move across eastern Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne and then enter the Mississippi coast later this evening, then move across the southeastern and eastern United States on Thursday. Very high waves and hurricane force winds will continue over the north-central Gulf of Mexico east of the mouth of the Mississippi River through this evening before diminishing overnight and early Thu morning. Zeta is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and hurricane force winds to portions of the SE Louisiana coast during the next few hours and to the Mississippi and Alabama coasts through late this evening. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by NHC at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for marine impacts. Please read the latest NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory on Zeta at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A tropical wave has been added to the analysis along 49W from 03N-16N, moving W at 15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is within 180 nm east of the wave axis from 06N-12N, and within 360 nm west of the wave axis from 09N-15N. Strong winds continue east of the wave axis from 10N-14N. An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave is along 60W from 04N-17N, moving W at 15-20 kt. A mid to upper level trough is located just to the northwest of this tropical wave. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted from 09.5N-16N between 56W-60W. Strong winds are behind the wave axis from 12N-15N. Expect an enhancement of showers along with gusty winds over the Lesser Antilles this evening through early Thursday as the wave enters the Caribbean and interacts with the upper trough. Enhanced rainfall is possible in Puerto Rico Thursday through Friday, and in Hispaniola Friday through Saturday. A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 76/77W from 05N-21N, moving W at 15-20 kt. Isolated showers and mild thunderstorms dot the waters within 120 nm of the wave axis. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Guinea near 09.5N14W to 08N18W. The ITCZ continues from 08N18W to 06N36W to 07N47W, then resumes W of a tropical wave from 10N51W to 11N58W. Isolated moderate convection is from 03N-08N between 05W-22W. Scattered moderate convection is from 03N-07N between 28W-38W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is from 03N-08N between 07W and 17W, and from 02.5N-10N between 30W and 46W. within 180 nm north of the ITCZ between 51W-55.5W. GULF OF MEXICO... Please see the Special Features section above for details on Hurricane Zeta entering the Southeast Louisiana coast. A cold front continues across the western Gulf of Mexico and has dammed up along the western periphery of Zeta, from near the Texas-Louisiana border to 24N93W to the southern Mexico coast near 20N97W. Near gale force NW winds are occurring behind this front from 25N-28.5N off the central Texas coast to 94W. Strong NW winds are elsewhere behind the front. The front will cross the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Zeta moves well inland tonight. The front will then reach from the Florida Big Bend to the NW Yucatan Peninsula by late Thu. By late Fri, the front will move southeast of the area. Strong northwest winds behind the front will diminish to fresh speeds Thu through Fri. High pressure will build in behind the front through the weekend, with winds diminishing and seas subsiding throughout. A strong reinforcing cold front will cross the area Sun and Sun night followed by fresh to strong N to NE winds. CARIBBEAN SEA... A mid to upper-level trough extends from the Anegada Passage SW to the A-B-C Islands. A tropical wave approaching the Lesser Antilles will enter the eastern Caribbean tonight. The combination of the upper trough and the tropical wave will produce a significant enhancement of showers and tstorms across the Lesser Antilles and eastern Caribbean through Thursday. Strong E winds are expected behind the tropical wave. As the wave crosses the central Caribbean Fri through Sat, gusty winds along with showers and tstorms will continue to accompany the wave, particularly over the Greater Antilles. Isolated showers and tstorms are seen over the central Caribbean in association with a tropical wave along 76/77W. This wave will move across the western Caribbean Thu through Fri. Elsewhere scattered showers along the coast and just inland between Tulum, Mexico and Belize City, Belize have shifted inland across the Yucatan Peninsula. Scattered moderate o strong convection is seen over Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras in association with the east Pacific monsoon trough, and broad cyclonic circulation south of Zeta. The latest ASCAT pass shows fresh NE to E winds over the NE Caribbean north of 15N and east of 73W. Fresh E winds are south of Cuba and north of the Cayman Islands. Mainly moderate winds prevail elsewhere. A third tropical wave will enter the eastern Caribbean early Sat and reach the central Caribbean by late Sun. This wave will also contain numerous showers and tstorms and be followed by fresh to strong east winds. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A surface ridge extends from a 1022 mb high pressure near 32N27W to a 1020 mb high pressure near 30N61W to the coast of Georgia. Light to gentle winds prevail from 27N-32N between 40W-82W. Fresh trades are farther south from 19N-25N between 50W-82W. Strong trades are occurring in the tropical Atlantic over much of the area from 10N-19N between 41W-59W. A mid to upper level trough resides over the central Atlantic near 60W from 30N southward to the NE Caribbean. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are from 16-26N between 53W- 63W. No major areas of shower activity are seen across the remainder of the basin. Moderate to fresh winds are expected south of 27N through Thu night. A cold front will move off the SE U.S. coast Thu night with strong SW winds ahead of it, north of 29N. These winds will spread east as the front reaches a line from Bermuda to the SE Bahamas to central Cuba this weekend and stalls. Strong N winds are possible behind the front north of 29N this weekend. The northern part of a tropical wave will move across the waters just north of the Leeward and Virgin Islands this afternoon and north of Puerto Rico Thu night, followed by fresh to strong east winds. Scattered showers and tstorms will impact most of the eastern Greater Antilles and also the southeastern Bahamas from Thu night into the weekend. $$ Stripling