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Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion


000
AXNT20 KNHC 141101
TWDAT 

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1215 UTC Thu May 14 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 
1045 UTC.

...TROPICAL WAVES...

A far eastern Atlantic tropical wave has its axis near 24W from
01N to 13N. It is moving westward at about 10 kt. The wave is 
in a very dry surrounding environment marked by a dense area of 
Saharan Air Layer (SAL) as seen in the GOES-E dust and GEO color
imagery. Isolated showers are near and along the wave axis from 
02N to 05N.

A central Atlantic tropical wave has its axis near 44W from 01N 
to 14N, moving westward at 10-15 kt. See the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ 
section below for convection near the southern portion of this 
wave.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

The monsoon trough axis enters the Atlantic Ocean through the 
coast of Guinea-Bissau near 12N16W and continues southwestward to 
06N20W, where it transitions to the ITCZ to 04N23W, then breaks 
due to the tropical wave near 24W, and continues at 04N25W to 01N34W 
to just west of the other wave near 01N45W and to just inland Brazil 
near 02N51W. Numerous moderate to isolated strong convection within 
240 nm north of the ITCZ between 44W-51W and within 180 nm north of 
the ITCZ between 36W-44W.

...GULF OF AMERICA...

A weak stationary front extends southwestward from low pressure 
of 1008 mb that is located east of central Florida near 29N80W to 
southwest Florida, and continues to just northeast of the Yucatan 
Peninsula. Isolated showers are southeast of the frontal boundary. 
The activity becomes scattered in coverage across the Straits of 
Florida. The remainder of the basin is under a weak high pressure 
system and a continental dry airmass. The related weak pressure 
gradient supports moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate 
seas.

For the forecast, the entire frontal boundary will slowly move 
southeastward and stall over the Straits of Florida today and lose
definition through Fri. Otherwise, weak high pressure over the 
basin will maintain rather quiet conditions throughout today. 
Another weak cold front is forecast to enter the NE Gulf tonight 
and dissipate over the eastern Gulf on Fri. Southeast winds are 
forecast to reach moderate to fresh speeds over the western half 
of the basin this weekend and into early next week as the pressure
gradient tightens between the western extension of Atlantic high 
pressure and relatively lower pressures in west Texas. 

...CARIBBEAN SEA...

The interaction between strong high pressure centered well north 
of the basin over the central Atlantic, with relatively lower 
pressures in northern South America is supporting a pressure 
gradient that is sustaining fresh to strong trades in the south-
central Caribbean, including the Gulf of Venezuela. Seas of 6 to 8
ft are outside the Gulf of Venezuela per an overnight altimeter 
satellite data pass. Overnight scatterometer satellite data 
indicates moderate to fresh trades across north-central, eastern 
and southwestern portions of the sea while light to gentle winds 
and slight seas are elsewhere in the basin.

For the forecast, the pressure gradient in place will support 
fresh to strong trades across the central Caribbean, with the 
strongest winds offshore Colombia and in the Gulf of Venezuela. 
Moderate to fresh trades are expected across the remainder of the 
forecast waters, pulsing to strong in the Gulf of Honduras at 
night Sat through Tue. Large E swell resulting in rough seas will
impact the tropical N Atlantic waters through late Sun, then 
begin to subside on Mon.

...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

A weak stationary front extends southwestward from a 1007 mb low 
that is centered near 32N75W to a 1008 mb low at 29N80W, and 
continues southwestward to inland Florida near Vero Beach.
Water vapor imagery shows a broad mid to upper-level trough 
across the same area as the front. Very dry sinking air with 
northwest flow aloft is moving across most of the western half of 
the basin as the trough advances eastward. To the east of trough, 
an area of numerous moderate to strong convection is evident north
of 27N between 65W and 71W. Scattered showers and isolated 
thunderstorms are from 22N to 27N between 65W and 73W, and also 
from 22N to 27N between 73W and 80W. Isolated showers and 
thunderstorms are noted elsewhere south of 30N and west of about 
58W. Fresh to strong southerly winds are north of about 27N 
between 63W and 73W. Seas with these winds are 5 to 7 ft as noted 
by Sofar Ocean Spotter buoys in the described area, and by an 
overnight altimeter satellite pass. A portion of a stationary 
front is along 31N between 51W and 56W. Isolated showers are 
possible along and near the frontal boundary. 

The remainder of the SW North Atlantic west of 55W is dominated by a 
rather broad high pressure ridge axis. Moderate to fresh southeast 
to south winds and seas of 4 to 7 ft are south of 28N and between 
55W and 75W, with the exception of higher seas of 6 to 8 ft in long-
period east swell south of 16N between 55W and 60W.

The pressure gradient between a strong 1034 mb high pressure 
center centered well north of the Azores and lower pressures in 
western Africa support fresh to strong northerly winds and rough 
seas roughly from 13N to 26N and east of 30W. Over the rest of the
central and eastern tropical Atlantic, mainly south of 28N and 
between 30W and 55W, moderate to fresh easterly winds and rough 
seas prevail. Elsewhere, moderate or lighter winds and moderate 
seas are noted.

For the forecast west of 55W, the stationary front off northeastern
Florida will merge with a weak cold front that will move off the 
northeast Florida coast today. The cold front will extend from 
near 31N69W to 26N72W and as a weakening stationary front to near 
the northern Bahamas Fri afternoon, from near 31N62W to 26N70W 
early on Sat, then become a weakening stationary front from near 
31N60W to 27N69W by late Sat night as high pressure N of the area 
shifts eastward while it strengthens some. Fresh to strong 
southerly winds are expected over the central and eastern waters N
of about 27N through Fri while gradually lifting N of the area. 

$$
Aguirre