000
AXNT20 KNHC 221816
TWDAT

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1815 UTC Wed Apr 22 2026

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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 
 UTC.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic near the coastal border of
northern Senegal and Gambia, then curves southwestward to 02N31W.
An ITCZ continues southwestward from 02N31W to 01N41W, then turns
northwestward to near the coast of Suriname. Numerous moderate 
to scattered strong convection is noted south of the monsoon
trough from 00N to 06N east of 21W. Scattered moderate convection
is seen near and up to 155 nm north of the ITCZ west of 45W.

...GULF OF AMERICA...

Convergent southerly winds are triggering scattered showers and
thunderstorms southeast of New Orleans in the north-central Gulf.
Otherwise, ridging remains  over the Gulf. Moderate to fresh SE 
winds and seas of 5 to 7 ft are noted at the east-central and 
southeastern Gulf, including the Florida Straits. Gentle to 
moderate SE to S winds with 3 to 5 ft prevail for the rest of the 
Gulf.

For the forecast, moderate to fresh winds and rough seas will 
gradually diminish today in the southeastern Gulf. High pressure 
will build across the Gulf region, with a relatively weak pressure
gradient across the area. This will result in gentle to moderate 
SE winds basin-wide by tonight, then prevailing through late 
week. 

...CARIBBEAN SEA...

The tail-end of a cold front is creating scattered showers across
eastern Cuba and near the north coast of Hispaniola, including 
the Windward Passage. Farther west, a surface trough is bringing 
patchy showers in the northwestern basin. Moderate to fresh ENE 
winds and seas of 4 to 6 ft are seen in the lee of Cuba and near 
the Windward Passage. Gentle to moderate ENE to E winds and 2 to 4
ft seas prevail for the remainder of the Caribbean Sea.

For the forecast, fresh to locally strong NE winds are expected 
across the Windward Passage and south of Cuba through tonight as a
late-season cold front moves across Cuba, then dissipates along 
the northern coast of Hispaniola tonight into Thu. The Atlantic 
high pressure located north of the basin will weaken over the 
next couple of days and support a weaker than usual pressure 
gradient over the Caribbean Sea into the weekend. This will result
in mainly gentle to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas 
across the entire basin Fri through Sun.

...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

A cold front curves southwestward from the north-central Atlantic
across 31n50w to eastern Cuba. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms are occurring near and up to 230 nm southeast of
this feature. To the south, a surface trough is causing scattered
showers east of the northern Leeward Islands. Refer to the Monsoon
Trough/ITCZ section for more information.

Moderate to fresh with locally strong N to NE winds and 6 to 9 ft
seas are present behind the cold front, except gentle to moderate
winds and seas at 3 to 5 ft off northeastern Florida. To the east,
gentle to moderate SE to SW winds and 4 to 6 ft seas dominate
north of 20N between 35W and cold front. For the remainder of the
Atlantic west of 35W, gentle with locally moderate ENE to E winds
and 4 to 5 ft seas exist.

For the forecast west of 55W, fresh to strong N to NE winds and 
rough seas will follow the front as it moves eastward through 
tonight. Conditions will gradually improve late this week as the 
front weakens and eventually stalls Fri over the SE waters. High 
pressure in the wake of the front will weaken over the next couple
of days, bringing a gentle to moderate anticyclonic flow with 
slight to moderate seas through the weekend, with the exception of
the NE waters where fresh westerly winds and rough seas are 
expected as a cold front clips the area on Sat

$$

Chan