000 AXNT20 KNHC 121610 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Fri Apr 12 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1600 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Caribbean Gale Warning: A strong subtropical ridge over the NW Atlantic will force fresh to near gale-force easterly winds across the south-central Caribbean for the next several days. Gale force winds are expected to pulse offshore Colombia tonight through Sun night. Seas should peak near 12 ft during each night's late night/early morning hours. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast, at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for more details on the above GALE WARNING. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic through the coast of Guinea near 10N14W and continues southwestward to 06N16W. The ITCZ extends from 06N16W to 00N40W. Scattered moderate convection is observed south of 05N and east of 18W, with another area of similar convection west of 30W. ...GULF OF MEXICO... High pressure is building in across the basin behind a departed cold front. Moderate to fresh northerly winds and moderate seas prevail behind the front in the eastern Gulf to 90W. Moderate or weaker NE to E winds and slight to moderate seas prevail across the remainder of the basin west of 90W. For the forecast, as the front continues moving farther from the basin, conditions will improve over the eastern basin by this afternoon. Strong winds will pulse off the northwest Yucatan in the evenings through the next several days. Otherwise, moderate to fresh winds with slight to moderate seas can be expected through the upcoming weekend and into next week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Please refer to the Special Features for information on the Gale Warning off NW Colombia. A stationary front extends from western Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras. Showers are likely occurring along the boundary in the NW Caribbean. Moderate N to NE winds are noted behind the front with slight to moderate seas. The rest of the basin is dominated by a strong subtropical ridge centered south of Newfoundland. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in NW South America is allowing for strong to near gale-force easterly trade winds in the south-central Caribbean. Seas are rough in these waters. Fresh to strong easterly breezes and moderate seas are found in the north-central and NE Caribbean. Moderate to locally fresh easterly winds and moderate seas are noted in the SE Caribbean. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate seas prevail. For the forecast, gale-force winds will pulse off the northern coast of Colombia at night through the weekend. The stationary front in the NW Caribbean will gradually dissipate through Sat. Some rough seas are possible near the Yucatan Channel through Sat. High pressure will build in as the front washes out with moderate to locally fresh winds and moderate seas across much of the basin, locally strong near the Windward Passage and Lee of Cuba. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... A cold front extends from 31N75W to just southeast of the Straits of Florida to central Cuba. Showers are observed ahead of the front to 70W, north of 25N. Behind the front, moderate to fresh NW to W winds and moderate seas are present. The remainder of the tropical western Atlantic is dominated by a strong subtropical ridge centered south of Newfoundland. A trough stretches from 31N34W to 16N59W. The pressure gradient between the ridge and surface trough results in fresh to strong NE to E winds north of the surface trough to 27N and west of 40W to 70W, where winds become SW to S westward to the aforementioned cold front. Seas are moderate to rough in these waters. Moderate to fresh easterly winds and moderate to rough seas are present south of the surface trough and west of 40W. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. For the forecast west of 55W, the cold front extending from 31N75W to just southeast of the Straits of Florida will reach from 31N68W to central Cuba early Sat while weakening, then from 31N61W to eastern Cuba early Sun where it will stall and gradually dissipate. Strong to near gale- force winds near the front N of 29N early today will diminish through tonight. Rough seas will accompany these winds. High pressure will build in the wake of the front through early next week with more tranquil marine conditions expected. $$ Nepaul