000 AXNT20 KNHC 032343 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Mon Mar 04 2024 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 2330 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Central Atlantic Significant Swell Event: A tight pressure gradient between a strong 1040 mb high pressure centered to the southeast of Nova Scotia, and a quasi-stationary surface trough over the central subtropical Atlantic waters is supporting strong to near gale-force northeast winds and very rough seas of 12 to 16 ft north of 25N between 45W and 61W, with a period of 10 seconds. These hazardous marine conditions will persist across the forecast waters east of 60W through Mon. Afterward, winds and seas will gradually decrease over much of the area through the week. Please read the latest High Seas Forecasts 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 enters the Atlantic from the Liberia/Sierra Leone border near 07N12W and continues southwestward to 02N20W. The ITCZ continues from 02N20W to 01N30W to 03N40W. Numerous moderate to strong convection is within 300 nm southeast of the trough between the coast of Africa and 15W. Scattered moderate convection is within 120 nm south of the ITCZ between 30W-36W. ...GULF OF MEXICO... High pressure extends from the far North Atlantic southwestward across northern Florida and to the north-central Gulf. A trough is analyzed from near 28N90W to 27N94W. Another trough extends from 23N94W to 19N95W. The gradient between the high pressure and the trough supports light to gentle east-southeast winds. Seas across the basin are 2-4 ft, except for slightly higher seas of 3-5 ft over the central Gulf and eastern Bay of Campeche. Latest satellite imagery shows scattered showers and thunderstorms moving southeastward over the central and eastern Gulf waters from 25N to 27N between 83W-89W. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are elsewhere south of 26N east of 85W, and from 25N to 28N between 89W-93W. Areas of light haze are present south of 25N and west of 91W. For the forecast, light to gentle east to southeast winds and slight seas prevail basin-wide. Moderate to fresh southeast winds will develop over the central and eastern Gulf tonight into Tue evening. Gentle to moderate southeast to south winds will resume across the basin Tue night through Thu. Fresh to strong southeast winds will develop in the central Gulf Thu night ahead of the next cold front, which will move into the western Gulf Fri. Moist air moving over cooler waters along the northern Gulf is expected to bring areas of dense sea fog to some locations along and offshore the Gulf coast from Texas to the Floria panhandle in advance of the forecast cold front. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... High pressure ridging extends from very strong high pressure that is located over the north-central Atlantic southwestward to across the northern Caribbean. The pressure gradient between the ridge and the Colombian low continues to support fresh to strong northeast to east winds over the south-central Caribbean with seas of 8 to 10 ft from 11N to 15N between 72W and 76W, including the waters adjacent to Colombia. Fresh northeast winds are from 11N to 15N between 76W-80W, where seas are 6-9 ft in northeast to east swell. Mostly moderate northeast to east winds are elsewhere over the basin, except west of 85W where winds are east-southeast in direction. Seas elsewhere are 4-7 ft. Patches of low-level moisture, embedded in the trade wind flow with scattered showers, are moving westward across the basin from 13N to 17N. For the forecast, the aforementioned high pressure north of the area will support pulses of fresh to strong northeast to east winds over the south-central Caribbean, and in the Gulf of Honduras through the week. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail elsewhere. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES Section for details about a central Atlantic Significant Swell Event. Latest scatterometer satellite data passes show moderate to fresh east to southeast winds east of the Bahamas to near 69W. Seas with these winds are in the 8 to 10 ft range. Moderate east to southeast winds are west of the Bahamas, except for gentle east winds north of 29N and west of 79W. Seas are 6-8 ft west of the Bahamas, except for 5 to 7 ft in east swell north of 29N and west of 79W. A quasi-stationary trough is analyzed from 21N48W, northward to low pressure of 1015 mb at 24N48W, and continues to 30N47W. Satellite imagery shows areas of moderate to heavy rain with embedded scattered showers isolated thunderstorms from 23N to 30N and between 38W-49W. A tight pressure gradient between the low and very strong high pressure of 1040 mb over the north Atlantic to the southeast of Nova Scotia is creating strong to near gale-force winds from about 25N to 31N and between 43W-58W. Seas with these winds are 13 to 16 ft. The combination of a 1030 mb high that is south of the Azores near 34N28W and a trough over northwest Africa is producing fresh to strong northeast to east winds and rough seas as far south as 13N, including the Cape Verde Islands. Seas are 8-11 ft with these winds. Gentle to moderate winds northeast to east winds are over the tropical Atlantic west of about 40W along with seas of 5-6 ft. Buoy data northeast of the Leeward Islands and north of Puerto Rico indicates seas of 7-10 ft due to long-period northeast swell. For the forecast W of 55W, fresh to strong northeast winds and rough to very rough seas associated with a surface trough over the central subtropical Atlantic waters will persist across the offshore waters east of 60W through Mon. Afterward, winds and seas will gradually decrease over much of the area through the week. Winds and seas will increase offshore northeast Florida by midweek ahead of the next cold front. This front is forecast to move off the coast of Florida Thu, and extend from near Bermuda to central Florida Fri. $$ Aguirre