000 AXNT20 KNHC 171047 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1215 UTC Thu Apr 17 2025 Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of America, 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1030 UTC. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic near 12N16W and extends to 05N18W. The ITCZ continues from 05N18W to 02N41W. Scattered moderate convection is occurring south of 06N and east of 18W, and south of 04N between 20W and 40W. ...GULF OF AMERICA... A stationary front resides over the Florida Straits, and no significant convection is noted near this feature. The rest of the basin is dominated by a 1020 mb high centered near 29N86W, supporting gentle to locally moderate N to E winds and slight seas east of 90W. Moderate SE winds are occurring west of 90W, and locally fresh SE winds are noted offshore of the Texas-Mexico border near Brownsville. Seas of 2 to 5 ft prevail in this region. For the forecast, pulsing fresh to strong NE winds will occur offshore of the Yucatan Peninsula and in the eastern Bay of Campeche through this weekend as a trough develops daily and moves westward. Elsewhere, fresh to locally strong SE winds will develop west of 90W today as a low pressure system strengthens in the central United States. By Fri, pulsing fresh to locally strong SE winds are expected across much of the basin, including through the Florida Straits, as the pressure gradient strengthens between the aforementioned low and building high pressure over the western Atlantic. Seas will slowly build through this weekend, with rough seas possible near the strong winds by early Sat. Looking ahead, winds and seas will slowly diminish next week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... A 1007 mb low centered over northwestern Colombia is supporting strong to near-gale force winds offshore of Colombia and associated seas of 8 to 10 ft. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh NE to E winds and seas of 4 to 7 ft are noted across much of the rest of the basin, with the exception of the Windward Passage and in the lee of lee of Cuba, where slight seas prevail. For the forecast, strong to near-gale force NE winds will pulse each night and morning offshore of Colombia through early next week. Rough to very rough seas are expected near and to the west of the strongest winds in the south-central Caribbean. Elsewhere, pulsing strong winds are likely in the Gulf of Venezuela into early next week. Fresh to strong NE winds are expected to develop in the Windward Passage and in the lee of Cuba tonight, with widespread fresh to locally strong winds occurring across the central and western Caribbean Fri through this weekend as high pressure strengthens over the western Atlantic. Rough seas will accompany the winds, with seas over 8 ft expected across the central basin and through the Windward Passage. Looking ahead, a long period N swell will promote rough seas near the Greater Antilles and through the Passages into the Caribbean this weekend. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... A weakening stationary front extends from 31N42W southwestward to 28N62W. Scattered moderate convection is occurring from 24N to 28N between 55W and 65W associated with this front. Farther west, a cold front extends from 31N67W through the central Bahamas, and continues as a stationary front through the Florida Straits. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are occurring along the cold front. Moderate to locally fresh N to NE winds and seas of 3 to 6 ft are found in the wake of this front. Elsewhere, a surface ridge stretches southwestward from a 1027 mb high centered north of the area near 35N41W to northeast of the Leeward Islands. Gentle to moderate ESE to S winds are seen near the ridge axis, north of 27N between 35W and 65W. To the south from 03N to 20N between 35W and the Lesser Antilles, moderate to fresh NE to ESE winds with 6 to 8 ft seas dominate. Gentle to moderate E to SE winds and seas of 4 to 7 ft in mixed moderate swells prevail elsewhere in the Atlantic Basin. For the forecast west of 55W, the cold front extending from 31N67W through the Bahamas and Florida Straits will slowly drift southward through Fri, and high pressure is expected to build in the wake of the front. A strengthening pressure gradient between these features will support widespread moderate to fresh NE winds, with localized strong winds, and rough seas north of the Greater Antilles late tonight through this weekend. Widespread strong E to NE winds and rough seas are expected Sat into Sun through the Bahamas and near the Greater Antilles. Winds and seas will slowly diminish west of 65W early next week. Looking ahead, a complex low pressure system may develop in the central Atlantic this weekend, producing fresh to strong NE winds and rough seas surrounding the low, east of 65W. $$ ADAMS