000 AXNT20 KNHC 082310 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Tue Dec 8 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 2220 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Atlantic Gale Warning: A strong cold front stretches across the western Atlantic from 32N60W to the eastern tip of Cuba. Gale force S-SW winds are along and within 120 nm east of the front, north of 29N. Seas in the area are 12-16 ft. Gales associated with the front will exit the area to the north this evening as the front continues moving eastward. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.html for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes over the border of Guinea and Sierra Leone near 09N13W to 07N17W. The ITCZ continues from 07N17W to 06N35W to the coast of Brazil near 01N50W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted along and north of the ITCZ from 06N-13N between 20W-44W. GULF OF MEXICO... A broad surface ridge continues across the Gulf, behind a cold front across the NW Caribbean. Broken low and middle level clouds are seen across the SE Gulf, while the remainder of the basin is under fair skies. Fresh north winds cover the eastern Gulf east of 88W, where seas are 5-7 ft. Moderate north winds prevail across central portions and in the SW Gulf across the Veracruz, Mexico coastal area, with gentle winds in the NW Gulf. Moderate to fresh northerly winds over the eastern half of the basin will gradually diminish tonight. Surface ridging will prevail through Thu with light to gentle variable winds. Moderate to fresh return flow will establish over the western half of the basin Thu night ahead of the next cold front forecast to enter the NW Gulf Fri. CARIBBEAN SEA... A cold front extends from the eastern end of Cuba southwestward to NW Jamaica to near the Honduras-Nicaragua border. Scattered showers are within 90 nm of the front to the west of 80W. Fresh north winds extend across most of the NW Caribbean, northwest of the front. Seas are 6-9 ft in the NW Caribbean, and highest directly behind the front. Scattered showers are noted in the SW Caribbean, mainly south of 10N associated with the monsoon trough. The cold front will move SE and reach from the Windward Passage to northern Costa Rica this evening with strong to near gale force N winds filling in behind the front and affecting the E Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica adjacent waters through Thu. Fresh to locally strong NE winds are also expected in the Windward Passage Wed night through Fri. Otherwise, moderate trade winds in the south-central Caribbean will pulse at nighttime to fresh to strong along the coast of Colombia from Wed night through Sat night. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends from 32N60W to 24N68W to the eastern end of Cuba. Scattered moderate convection is along and within 90 nm east of the front, north of 23N and east of 70W. Gale-force S-SW winds are along and within 120 nm east of the front north of 29N. Please see the Special Features section above for details on the Gale Warning. Behind the front, strong to near gale force W-NW winds are north of 29N between the front and 68W. Elsewhere from Cuba to 32N between the front and Florida, moderate to fresh northwest winds are noted. An upper level trough axis extends from 30N36W to 20N42W to 14N51W. Scattered moderate showers extend near and east of the trough axis from 11N-27N between 23W-45W. A 1032 mb high centered just south of the Azores near 35N27W is producing a broad surface ridge across most of the Atlantic east of 45W. Strong to gale force winds in the far NE forecast waters behind the cold front will shift E of 65W early this evening, with seas associated with the passage of the front to subside tonight through Wed. A reinforcing cold front will reach the waters northeast of the NW Bahamas on Fri and dissipate Fri night. A third cold front will enter the waters east of northern Florida Sat night. $$ Stripling