000 AXNT20 KNHC 241738 TWDAT 000 AXNT20 KNHC 241745 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Thu Dec 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1715 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...GULF OF MEXICO GALE WARNING... Strong high pressure building behind fast-moving cold front across the NW Gulf will produce a large area of NW to N gale- force winds immediately north of the front as it races southward across the entire basin today and tonight. Expect gale-force winds 30 to 45 kt, and sea heights ranging from 10 to 17 feet, NW of the front. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNINGS... A strong cold front, currently in the Gulf of Mexico, will induce strong southerly winds ahead of the front as it moves east of northern Florida tonight. 30 to 35 kt S to SW winds are expected north of 29N east of the front to 75W, with sea heights ranging from 10 feet to 16 feet. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more details. Gale-force winds are forecast to continue in the areas IRVING and METEOR. Please read the latest forecasts, from the webpage: http://www.gmdss.org/bulletins/METAREA2.HIGH_SEAS_WARNING.1951.23 195147713.html, for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coast of Africa near 08N12W to 07N18W. The ITCZ continues from 07N18W to 05N30W to the coast of N Brazil near 04N51W. Widely scattered moderate convection is from 02N-10N between 11W-42W. GULF OF MEXICO... As of 24/1500 UTC, a strong cold front extends from the Florida Panhandle near 30N86W to 23N96W to the Bay of Campeche near 20N97W. Scattered moderate convection is over the NE Gulf of Mexico N of 27N within 90 nm of the front. The front will race SE across the entire basin during the next 24 hours. Widespread gale-force winds are north and northwest of the cold front. A broad area of large seas in excess of 10 ft will build behind the front today and tonight. High pressure will prevail across the region this weekend. CARIBBEAN SEA... A surface trough is over Hispaniola from 21N71 to 17N71W. Broken to overcast multi-layered clouds and scattered showers are within 120 nm of the trough. Strong trade winds in the central Caribbean Sea will pulse to near gale-force early this today near the coast of Colombia. A strong cold front will reach the Yucatan Channel tonight, extend from central Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras Fri morning, from eastern Cuba to SE Nicaragua Sat morning, then stall and weaken on Sun. Expect moderate to fresh northerly winds and building seas accompanying this front Fri. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends from the central Atlantic near 31N46W to 28N52W. A stationary front continues to 23N70W. Broken to overcast multi-layered clouds, and embedded showers are within 120 nm of the fronts. A surface trough is over the central Atlantic from 28N46W to 20N46W. Scattered showers are within 120 nm of the trough. A 1010 mb low is centered over the E Atlantic near 27N26W. A cold front extends S to 24N22W to 18N30W. Scattered showers are N of 27N between 14W-26W to include the Canary Islands. The central Atlantic fronts will weaken through tonight. Southerly winds will increase ahead of a strong cold front forecast to move east of Florida tonight. Strong southerly winds to gale-force are expected tonight ahead of the front. The front will extend from 31N75W to northern Cuba Fri morning, slow and weaken from 31N66W to eastern Cuba Sat morning, then become stationary from 31N60W to eastern Cuba Sun morning. $$ Formosa