Special Features

W Gulf of America Gale Warning: A strong cold front has entered the NW Gulf, extending from 30N92W to 26N97W. The front will continue moving quickly across the basin through Sun night, producing strong to near-gale northerly winds and rough to very rough seas behind it. Gale-force winds are expected offshore of Tampico Sun morning, and offshore of Veracruz Sun afternoon and night. Seas offshore Tampico are expected to build to 12 to 14 ft, while seas offshore Veracruz are forecast to build to 14 to 16 ft. A Gale Warning is also in effect for the coastal waters from the western Florida Panhandle all the way to south Texas. Gusty winds of 35 to 40 kt are expected in these waters in the wake of the front. Winds and seas should gradually subside from NW to SE Mon through Tue as high pressure builds across the Gulf region behind the cold front.

W Atlantic Gale Warning: The same strong cold front described above currently moving through the Gulf of America will push offshore of the southeastern U. S. on Sun. Strong to gale force NW winds and rapidly building seas will prevail behind the front from Sun evening through early Mon. Seas during this time will build to 12-15 ft. The front is expected to reach from near Bermuda to eastern Cuba Mon, and from 31N60W to the Dominican Republic Tue, while weakening. The front will stall from 29N55W to the Mona Passage Wed.

Please read the latest NWS High Seas issued by the National Hurricane Center at website: https: //www. nhc. noaa. gov/text/MIAHSFAT2. shtml for more information

Monsoon Trough Itcz

The monsoon trough extends from 06N11W to 05N15W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 02S41W. Scattered moderate convection prevails along the ITCZ.

GULF OF AMERICA,

Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information about a W Gulf Gale Warning.

A strong cold front has entered the NW Gulf, extending from 30N92W to 26N97W. High pressure centered over the western Atlantic extends a ridge across Florida into the Gulf region. Under this weather pattern, a gentle to moderate SE return flow across is noted ahead of the front. Seas are in general 3 to 6 ft, except 1 to 3 ft offshore Florida to about 85W. The SE return flow is lifting smoke from agricultural fires in SE Mexico northward, producing hazy skies W of 90W.

For the forecast, a strong cold front moving across the Gulf of America will bring strong to gale-force winds and very rough seas. Please, see the Special features section for more information.

CARIBBEAN SEA,

The pressure gradient between high pressure N of the area and lower pressure over Colombia is currently supporting strong to near-gale force tradewinds in the south-central Caribbean. These winds were well-sampled by the most recent satellite derived wind data. The persistence of these wind speeds and fresh to strong trades elsewhere across the central Caribbean has resulted in 8 to 11 ft seas in the south-central Caribbean off the coast of Colombia. Elsewhere across the basin, seas are 4 to 7 ft with moderate to fresh trades, except in the Gulf of Honduras where fresh to strong SE winds prevail. Seas are 6 to 8 ft within these winds.

For the forecast, the pressure gradient will continue to support fresh to strong trade winds across the south-central Caribbean through Sun, before diminishing. Winds will pulse to near-gale force tonight offshore of Colombia. Farther east, rough seas will linger E of the Lesser Antilles through morning as N swell progresses across the central tropical Atlantic. A strong cold front will enter the northwestern Caribbean Sun night, reach from NW Haiti to near the Nicaragua- Costa Rica border by late Mon night, then stall and weaken from central Dominican Republic to NE Costa Rica Wed morning. Expect strong N winds and rapidly building seas behind this front.

ATLANTIC OCEAN,

Please see the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information about a the W Atlantic Gale warning.

A surface ridge dominates the Atlantic forecast waters, with 1020 mb high pressure centered near 26N72W and a 1021 mb high pressure located near 24N53W. Gentle to moderate easterly winds and moderate seas are noted around the southern periphery of the ridge W of 45W. Moderate to fresh trades dominate the tropical Atlantic, with seas in the 6 to 8 ft range. Decaying NW swell is producing seas to 9 ft north of 20N and east of 35W. The pressure gradient tightens between the ridge and frontal boundaries located just N of 31N resulting in fresh westerly winds and seas to 9 ft N of 26N between 30W-60W. Farther E, fresh NE winds are seen between the Canary Islands due to the pressure gradient between a 1032 mb high pressure situated W of Portugal and a trough over NW Africa.

For the forecast west of 55W, the aforementioned ridge will shift slowly eastward through the weekend, allowing a strong cold front will push offshore of the southeastern U. S. Sun, with strong to gale force NW winds and rapidly building seas behind the front through early Mon. The front is expected to reach from near Bermuda to eastern Cuba Mon, and from 31N60W to the Dominican Republic Tue, while weakening. The front will stall from 29N55W to the Mona Passage Wed.

Posted about 2 hours ago by NHC Forecaster ERA