000 AXNT20 KNHC 111003 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1205 UTC Thu Feb 11 2021 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0945 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...GALE-FORCE WINDS FOR THE CARIBBEAN SEA... NE-to-E gale-force winds and sea heights ranging from 8 feet to 10 feet are present in the coastal waters of Colombia from 11N to 12N between 74W and 76W. The wind speeds will slow down to less than gale-force later this morning, then return to gale- force tonight. Winds will subside again Fri morning, but near gale conditions will continue to pulse through the weekend. Please refer to the following website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal sections of Liberia near 06N11W, to 04N18W. The ITCZ continues from 04N18W to 00N28W, then continues along the equator to around 35W. Scattered moderate to strong convection is noted within 120 nm N of the ITCZ between 19W and 23W. GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front has moved off the Texas coast early this morning. Scattered moderate convection is located along and behind this boundary, within 90 nm of the Texas coast. Areas of fog, some dense, encompass most waters within 120 nm of the coast from Texas to Florida, north of 26N. Fresh NE winds occur behind the cold front. Elsewhere across the Gulf, dry conditions prevail with generally moderate SE winds. Ahead of the cold front, throughout the northern and eastern Gulf, areas of fog prevail into Fri due to very warm moist air over cooler waters. The front will track slowly SE, reaching from near Mobile Bay to the western Bay of Campeche Fri, and stretching from the Florida Panhandle to eastern Bay of Campeche Sat. Strong to near gale force winds will affect the far western Gulf tonight through Sat night. CARIBBEAN SEA... Please see Special Features section above for details on ongoing gales off the coast of Colombia. Relatively dry air is in place over most of the Caribbean, but a cluster of thunderstorms is ongoing within 90 nm offshore of Hispaniola. Fresh trades continue, except for strong over portions of the central Caribbean. Seas average 5 to 7 ft. High pressure north of the Caribbean Sea will maintain fresh to strong trade winds over the central and portions of the SW Caribbean through Mon night. Gale force winds will pulse off the coast of Colombia early this morning and again tonight, with near gale conditions prevailing through the weekend. Fresh to strong winds are also expected in the Gulf of Honduras and Windward Passage through Fri. Otherwise, NE swell will affect the tropical N Atlantic waters tonight through early next week with building seas to 9 ft. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A pair of cold fronts are drapped over the northernmost parts of the area. Neither are expected to make progress farther south. The first is noted from 32N57W to 30N67W to 32N73W. To the east, the second cold front extends from 32N22W to 26N40W, where it becomes stationary and stretches to 29N57W. High pressure dominates from 23N to 30N across the basin, bringing dry conditions and mainly gentle winds. Some scattered convection is noted offshore northern Florida, N of 30N and W of 73W. Fog is also occurring in this same area. Farther S, moderate to fresh trades winds are occurring. Swell generated from strong low pressure east of the Canadian Maritimes has spread S to areas E of 60W and N of 20N. This is causing seas of 8 to 14 ft. To the S and W of this area of swell, seas average 5 to 7 ft. High pressure will dominate until Sat night, when a cold front will move off the SE U.S. coast. This front will stall just offshore into Mon, with moderate southerly winds ahead of it over much of the area. Surface ridging extending across the region will continue to support fresh to strong winds at night between Hispaniola and Turks and Caicos, and the approaches of the Windward Passage into Sun. $$ KONARIK