000 AXNT20 KNHC 112350 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Sat Mar 12 2022 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 31N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis. Based on 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2350 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Mexico Gale Warning: A strong cold front entering the NW Gulf of Mexico this evening will support gale-force winds in the NW Gulf tonight. Gale winds will extend along the Mexican offshore waters and the north-central Gulf coast as the front quickly moves eastward. Seas will build 8-15 ft across the northern Gulf with 10-18 ft in the southwest Gulf on Sat. Winds will diminish on Sun, with wave heights subsiding by early Mon as high pressure in the wake of the front shifts eastward. Atlantic Gale Warning: A strong cold front will enter the sub- tropical western Atlantic mid-day on Sat. Gale-force SW winds will begin to develop in the waters north of 30N Sat morning. As the front passes, winds will shift to the west to northwest, while maintaining gale strength through Sat night. Wave heights will build to the range of 12-16 ft north of 28N and west of 60W. Winds will diminish early on Sun with wave heights subsiding early on Mon. Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough axis extends into the eastern Atlantic from the coast of Liberia near 06N11W and stretches southwest to 01S22W, where it transitions to the ITCZ and continues to the coast of Brazil near 05S35W. Numerous heavy showers and tsms are from 0N to 07N between 10W and 17W where recent scatterometer data show gale force winds. Similar convection is S of 0N between 40W and 45W. GULF OF MEXICO... See the Special Features section for more information on a Gale Warning that applies to almost the entire basin. A cold front extends from south-central Louisiana to just south of Brownsville, Texas followed by strong to near gale-force northerly winds and seas to 7 ft. Moderate to fresh S to SW winds are elsewhere across the eastern half of the gulf with seas to 5 ft. Heavy showers are over the NE waters being supported by middle level diffluent flow. As for the forecast, gale-force winds and very rough seas will develop behind the front across most of the basin tonight and Sat. The front will move SE of the area by late Sat. High pressure in the wake of the front will then shift eastward through Mon, allowing for fresh east to southeast return flow to set up over the Gulf in advance of the next cold front. This cold front is expected to enter the far NW Gulf late Mon night, and reach from the western Florida panhandle to the eastern Bay of Campeche by late Tue. Fresh winds will precede and follow this front. CARIBBEAN SEA... High pressure ridging north of the area is maintaining generally moderate to fresh easterly flow across the basin. Seas range from 4-6 ft, with the exception of higher seas of 6-8 ft between 62W- 73W and lower seas of 3-4 ft north of 18N between 73W-85W. Outside of isolated showers over the eastern portion of the basin associated with patches of low-level moisture, dry conditions prevail elsewhere. As for the forecast, high pressure north of the area will support fresh to strong trade winds in the south-central Caribbean tonight. Then, mainly moderate to fresh trades will prevail through Mon. Fresh to locally strong winds will end in the Gulf of Honduras by Sat morning. A cold front will move across the Yucatan Channel into the NW Caribbean by late Sat, bringing fresh to strong northerly winds and building seas to the area. Otherwise, fresh to locally strong trades and NE to E swell will continue to impact the waters east of the Lesser Antilles into early next week. ATLANTIC OCEAN... See the Special Features section for more information on the Gale Warning for part of the basin. Broad ridging anchored by a 1029 mb high pressure center near 29N47W controls the wind regime over the Atlantic. The only notable convection across the basin is observed east of Brazil to 38W and south of 06N. Moderate to fresh northeast to east winds are noted on scatterometer from 05N to 26N, with lighter winds to the north and south. Rough seas of 8-10 ft are within the region of higher winds, with seas of 4-7 elsewhere. A recent altimeter pass captured seas of 10-12 ft north of 27N associated with long period NW swell that is propagating into the central and eastern sub- tropical Atlantic from storms north of the area. As for the forecast west of 65W, fresh to strong southerly winds will prevail across the NE Florida waters tonight ahead of a strong cold front forecast to enter the SW N Atlantic on Sat morning. Gale conditions are forecast ahead and behind the front Sat and Sat night. Rough seas are expected Sat through early next week. Elsewhere, swell that has been impacting the offshore waters N of Puerto Rico will subside today, but continue to impact the Lesser Antilles into early next week as the swell is reinforced by another set of swell. $$ Ramos