000
AXNT20 KNHC 050000
TWDAT 

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
0005 UTC Sun May 05 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
2345 UTC.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic through the coast of 
Guinea-Bissau near 11N15W, and continues southwestward to
07N19W, where latest scatterometer data indicates that it 
transitions to the ITCZ to 04N30W and to 03N45W. Scattered 
moderate convection is seen within 120 nm south of the ITCZ 
between 30W-38W.

...GULF OF MEXICO...

Western Atlantic high pressure is ridging westward across 
Florida and to across the NE Gulf. Relatively lower pressure 
is over the central and western Gulf sections. A weak trough is 
along 85W from 26N to just south of Apalachicola, Florida while 
another trough is analyzed over the western Gulf from 25N93W to 
22N97W. No significant weather is occurring with these features.
Haze due to agricultural fires in southeastern Mexico is evident
in the SW and west-central Gulf. 

The pressure gradient in place is allowing for generally 
moderate to fresh east to southeast winds over the Gulf, except
for fresh southeast winds over the NW Gulf, fresh northeast to 
east winds over the Bay of Campeche and SW Gulf, and for light 
to gentle east to southeast winds over the NE Gulf. Seas of
4 to 7 ft are over the basin, except for slightly lower seas 
of 3 to 5 ft over the southeastern Gulf and 2 to 4 ft over the
NE Gulf.

For the forecast, the pressure gradient between the high and 
lower pressure in the western Gulf will support moderate to fresh
winds over most of the basin through late next week. Fresh to 
locally strong winds will pulse at night through late next week 
off the northern and western Yucatan Peninsula. The haze observed 
in the SW and west-central Gulf sections is likely to remain 
into the upcoming week as agricultural fires continue in 
southeastern Mexico and northern Central America.

...CARIBBEAN SEA...

The axis of an upper-level trough extends from well northeast of 
the Caribbean in the central Atlantic southwestward near Puerto 
Rico. At the surface, a trough also extends from the central 
southwestward to Puerto Rico. These troughs are acting on rather 
above normal tropical moisture that is present over the 
northeastern Caribbean along with plenty of instability. As a 
result, the potential for further development of scattered 
showers and thunderstorms remains quite high for most of the 
eastern Caribbean going into the upcoming week. Some of this 
activity may be accompanied by gusty winds and frequent 
lightning. Additional deep atmospheric moisture in the form of 
cloudiness is observed on satellite imagery being pulled north 
and northeastward over the eastern Caribbean due to strong 
southwest winds aloft that are out ahead of the aforementioned 
upper-level trough. Locally heavy rainfall continues to bring a 
threat of flooding to Puerto Rico through Sun. See local weather 
advisories for more information. Mariners should also be aware 
of the potential for strong wind gusts and locally rough seas in 
the area of showers and thunderstorms. 

The gradient in place supports moderate to locally fresh trade
winds over the southeastern Caribbean and mostly moderate trade 
winds elsewhere. Seas are in the range of 3 to 5 ft, except for 
slightly lower seas of 2 to 4 ft from 15N to 18N between 
76W and 85W and in the Gulf of Honduras. Seas of 4 to 6 ft are 
near the approaches to the Windward Passage and lower seas of 
2 to 3 ft are in the SW Caribbean.

Scattered moderate convection is seen over most of the interior
sections of Hispaniola, Cuba and some over Jamaica. Similar
activity is over the waters between southwestern Haiti and 
Jamaica.

Scattered to broken low-level clouds, some with possible isolated 
showers, are noted moving westward with the trade wind flow over 
just about the entire basin.

For the forecast, moderate to locally fresh east winds over the 
northwestern Caribbean will continue through mid-week. Similar 
winds will occur nocturnally in the Windward Passage through Mon 
night.

...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

Rather weak surface high pressure is north of 22N and west of 
65W. Broad upper-level ridging is over this same area of the 
Atlantic. These features are maintaining fairly tranquil weather 
conditions west of 65W. A cold front extends from low pressure 
of 1014 mb that is at 32N59W southwestward to 29N67W and 
northwestward to well north of the area. A narrow line of low-
level clouds, with possible isolated showers, denotes the 
leading edge of the frontal boundary on last visible satellite 
images. To the east, an upper-level trough axis stretches from 
an upper-level cyclonic circulation that is well north of the 
area southwestward to 31N60W, to 25N63W and to Puerto Rico. At 
the surface, a trough is analyzed from 31N47W to 24N55W and also 
to Puerto Rico. An extensive swath of multilayer clouds with 
embedded rain patches, scattered showers and possible isolated 
thunderstorms is east of the upper-level trough to a line from 
31N30W to 22N47W to Martinique. An area of scattered showers and 
thunderstorms lifting north is south of 14N between 55W-60W.

Moderate northeast to east winds and slight to moderate seas are 
present south of 25N and west of the surface trough.

The rest of the central and eastern Atlantic is dominated by a 
1021 mb high pressure system near the Island of Madeira. 
Moderate to fresh northeast to east winds and moderate seas are 
present south of a line from the westernmost of the Canary 
Islands to the Windward Islands. The strongest winds are 
occurring off Western Sahara. Moderate or weaker winds and 
moderate seas are prevalent elsewhere across the basin.

For the forecast west of 55W, the aforementioned trough will 
shift eastward through early next week as a cold front drops 
southward over the eastern and central waters. The front will 
shift east of the area Sun night, bringing rough seas with it,
primarily north of 20N and east of about 59W through mid-week.

$$
Aguirre