000 AXNT20 KNHC 072317 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Fri Apr 8 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 2255 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... GULF OF MEXICO GALE-FORCE WIND WARNING: A cold front extends from the Big Bend region of Florida to the E Bay of Campeche. Satellite-derived wind data earlier today depicted 35-40 kt NW winds in the SW Gulf of Mexico. Expect gale- force NW to N winds and the wave heights building rapidly to 11 feet this evening in the offshore waters of Veracruz. The wind speeds will diminish below gale-force tonight. Seas will decrease below 8 ft Fri morning. Please, read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast, that is issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic through the coast of Sierra Leone near 07N12W to 00N22W. A low pressure of 1011 mb is located near 04N14W. The ITCZ extends from 00N22W to 00N40W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is observed S of 06N and E of 23W. Scattered moderate convection is found S of 03N and between 27W and 43W. GULF OF MEXICO... Please, read the SPECIAL FEATURES section, for details about the gale-force wind warning for the southwestern corner of the Gulf of Mexico and for the waters offshore Veracruz in Mexico. The aforementioned cold front and diurnal heating across the peninsula of Florida are producing showers and thunderstorms affecting the eastern Gulf, mainly ahead of the front. Behind the cold front, a dry continental airmass maintains fairly tranquil weather conditions. Scatterometer data from earlier today and latest surface observations indicate that fresh to strong northerly winds prevail behind the front, and similar but southerly winds are noted ahead of the front, primarily N of 25N. Seas behind the front and S of 28N are 8-11 ft, while 5-8 ft are prevalent in the rest of the Gulf behind the front. Ahead of the front, 2-5 ft seas are prevalent. Areas of haze, that are being generated by agricultural fires in Mexico and northern Central America, are reducing the visibility along and offshore parts of the SW and west central Gulf of Mexico, to the east of the cold front. It is possible that the fires may grow, as the front brings strong winds. For the forecast, a cold front extends from the Big Bend area of Florida to the Mexican state of Tabasco. Gale-force NW winds offshore of Veracruz should continue through this evening. Elsewhere, strong to near gale N winds prevail west of the front. The cold front will continue to move southeastward and exit the Gulf of Mexico Fri morning. High pressure will build in the wake of the front through the weekend. Strong E to SE return flow should set up in the W Gulf late Sat through at least Tue night. CARIBBEAN SEA... The Caribbean Sea is located in the southwestern periphery of the Azores high and this environment of subsidence maintains fairly tranquil weather conditions. Fresh to strong trades are found in the south-central Caribbean Sea, with the strongest winds occurring offshore Colombia. Moderate to fresh easterly breezes prevail in the rest of the basin. Seas of 5-8 ft are present in the eastern and central Caribbean, with the highest seas occurring offshore NW Colombia. Seas of 4-6 ft are noted in the western Caribbean, with the highest seas observed off northern Belize. For the forecast, the Bermuda High north of the area will support fresh to strong NE to E trades in the south-central Caribbean near the coast of Colombia late nights and early mornings for the next several days. A late-season cold front will reach the Yucatan Channel Fri morning, then move through the NW Caribbean Sat, before dissipating Sun. High pressure building in behind the front will force increasing NE to E winds across the W and central Caribbean from Sun through at least Tue night. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A trough ahead of the cold front in the Gulf of Mexico extends from 30N79W to the Tampa area. Strong showers and thunderstorms are observed N of 26N and W of 72W. Fresh to strong SW winds are found N of 26N and W of 70W. Seas in this area are 5-7 ft. A 1027 mb high pressure system located near the Azores dominates the rest of the tropical Atlantic, permitting fairly tranquil weather conditions. Fresh to locally strong N-NE winds are present E of 27W, with the strongest winds primarily occurring near the Moroccan coast. Seas in this region are 6-9 ft. The pressure gradient between the Azores high and lower pressures in the deep tropics foments a large region of moderate to fresh trades between the Lesser Antilles and 27W. Seas are 6-8 ft in the area described. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker anticyclonic winds and seas of 5-7 ft are prevalent. For the forecast, fresh to strong SW winds are preceding a late- season cold front that will move off the coast of the SE U.S. this evening. The front will reach from near 31N75W to W Cuba Fri morning, from 31N70W to central Cuba Sat morning, from 31N63W to E Cuba Sun morning, from 31N56W to E Cuba Mon morning, and from 25N55W to Hispaniola Tue morning. Strong to near gale W to NW winds will develop in the wake of the front on Sat and Sun. High pressure building in behind the front should force increasing NE to E winds near the Windward Passage from Mon night through at least Tue night $$ DELGADO