000 AXNT20 KNHC 242208 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2200 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...GULF OF MEXICO GALE WARNING... Widespread gales prevail behind a strong, fast-moving, cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico. The front currently extends from the Florida panhandle, and will rapidly shift across the remainder of the Gulf this evening. Gale force winds will diminish behind the front tonight. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN GALE WARNINGS... The strong cold front currently in the Gulf of Mexico will induce gale force southerly winds ahead of the front as it moves east of northern Florida tonight. Winds may briefly reach gale force west of the front tonight. 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 09N13W to 08N17W. The ITCZ continues from 08N17W to 05N30W to the coast of N Brazil near 04N51W. Widely scattered moderate convection is from 05N-11N between 14W-50W. GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front extends from the Florida panhandle to the Bay of Campeche. Widespread gales prevail west of the front, with winds of 30 to 35 kt. Strong SW winds are noted N of 25N within 60 nm east of the front. Gentle to moderate winds are elsewhere east of the front. Seas are in the 8-15 ft range west of the front, and 3-5 ft east of the front. The cold front will rapidly shift across the remainder of the Gulf through early Fri, with gale force winds diminishing tonight. A broad area of large seas in excess of 10 ft will build behind the front through tonight. High pressure will build in the wake of the front and prevail across the region through early next week. CARIBBEAN SEA... High pressure prevails north of the area. The pressure gradient between this area of high pressure and low pressure over Colombia is supporting fresh to strong trades over the south central Caribbean. Fresh to strong winds are also over the far NE Caribbean. Light to gentle winds are noted over the NW Caribbean with moderate to fresh trades elsewhere. Seas are in the 7-10 ft range over the central Caribbean, 5-7 ft over the eastern Caribbean, and 3-5 ft over the western Caribbean. A strong cold front will reach the Yucatan Channel tonight. The front will 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. Moderate to fresh northerly winds and building seas will accompany this front Fri. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends from 32N43W to 26N63W. Fresh to strong winds dominate the waters north and west of the front, with seas in the 8-10 ft range over the open waters. Fresh to strong winds are also noted south of the front between 50W and 70W. Farther east, 1007 mb low pressure is centered near 26N24W. A cold front extends from the low to near 17N30W. Fresh to strong winds, with seas of 8-15 ft are noted within 510 NM NW semicircle of the low. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh winds and seas of 8-10 ft prevail. A strong cold front will move off the east coast of Florida tonight. Strong southerly winds to gale- force are expected east of northern Florida ahead of the front tonight. 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. High pressure will build in the wake of the front. $$ AL