Special Features

Central Atlantic Gales and Significant Swell: A strong cold front extends from 31N50W to 24N65W to 28N76W. Strong to near gale- force NW to N winds prevail behind the front to near 60W through 1800 UTC, with gale-force winds having recently shifted N of 31N. Large NW swell behind the front is producing 12 to 19 ft seas north of 27N between 52W and 69W. These very rough seas of 12 ft and higher are expected to spread southward to near 25N tonight, before gradually subsiding Fri. A new pulse of N-NW swell is then expected to move into the waters north of 28N late Fri night through Sat night to producer another area of seas 12 ft and greater.

Please read the latest High Seas and Offshore Waters Forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center at website: https: //www. nhc. noaa. gov/text/MIAHSFAT2. shtml and https: //www. nhc. noaa. gov/marine/offshores. php for more information.

Monsoon Trough Itcz

The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic from the coast of Africa near 10. 5N15W and continues to 07N19W. The ITCZ continues from that point to 02N28W to 03N37W to 00N49W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 01. 5N to 06N between 13W and 20W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is from 01N to 07. 5N between 35W and 60W.

Gulf Of America

A surface trough extending from the central Bay of Campeche to near 24N96W continues to trigger nearby scattered showers and isolated strong thunderstorms across the central Bay of Campeche. A 1024 mb high just east of the Chandeleur Islands is dominating the rest of the basin. Moderate to locally fresh ENE to E winds and moderate seas are present at the south- central and southeastern Gulf, including the Straits of Florida. Gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas are over the north- central Gulf. Light to gentle winds with slight seas prevail for the rest of the Gulf.

For the forecast, the high pressure will drift into the eastern Gulf through Fri. This pattern will continue to support gentle to moderate E to SE winds and slight to moderate seas across the Gulf into Sun. Looking ahead, the next cold front is expected to enter the northwest Gulf on Mon, followed by fresh to strong northerly winds and rough seas, except gale conditions will be possible in the far west central and southwest Gulf by Mon night.

Caribbean Sea

A robust trade-wind regime continues across all but southeast portions of the basin late this afternoon. Fresh to strong E-NE to NE winds and moderate to rough seas to 9 ft are noted over the south- central basin, lee of Cuba, near the Windward Passage and south of Hispaniola. Gentle to fresh NE winds and moderate seas prevail elsewhere in the Caribbean Sea.

For the forecast, strong high pressure across the western Atlantic will combine with the Colombian low to support fresh to strong winds in the lee of Cuba, the Windward Passage, and the central Caribbean through tonight, then persist through Tue off Colombia. Long period northerly swell moving into the northeastern passages will gradually subside by Sun.

Atlantic Ocean

See the Special Features above for details on the Gale conditions behind a cold front and the ongoing significant swell.

A strong cold front extends from 31N50W to 24N65W to 28N76W and then northwestward toward the Carolina coast. Strong to near gale-force NW winds prevail behind the front to 60W. Scattered showers and and isolated thunderstorms are occurring within 90 nm on either side of the front and mainly E of 60N. Large northerly swell is impacting the waters northeast through east of the Bahamas and beyond 55W. Over the central Atlantic, a broad and weak surface trough N of 18N between 48W and 55W prevails between the cold front and high pressure farther east. Scattered moderate convection covers a large area north of 19N between 38W and 50W.

Outside the area mentioned in the Special Features section, moderate to fresh NW to N winds and rough seas 6 to 10 ft dominate N of 25N between 60W and 73W. Gentle to fresh winds prevail elsewhere. Another area of rough seas to 10 ft in NW swell is noted N of 14N between 32W-58W, while moderate seas prevail elsewhere.

For the forecast west of 55W, the strong cold front will move east of the area later today, with the trailing end stalling and dissipating along 22N through early Fri. Strong NW winds and large swell follows the front east of 65W. Another cold front will move over the waters between northeast Florida and Bermuda Fri before moving east of the area Sat. It will be followed by additional reinforcing swell east of 70W. Yet another front will move into the waters between northeast Florida and Bermuda late Sat into Sun, and move east of the region through Mon. Looking ahead, a fourth front will move off the northeast Florida coast Mon night, and will reach from Bermuda to Jupiter Inlet, Florida by late Tue.

Posted about 5 hours ago by NHC Forecaster Stripling