Special Features

Caribbean Gale Warning: Tight pressure gradient between a broad surface ridge across the western Atlantic and a 1005 mb low pressure near northwestern Colombia will maintain fresh to strong trade winds and rough seas at the south-central Caribbean Sea through midweek. These winds off Barranquilla, Colombia are expected to peak at near-gale to gale-force tonight, along with 10 to 12 ft seas.

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

Tropical Waves

An early-season eastern Atlantic tropical wave is near 19W from 10N southward, moving westward around 10 kt. Scattered moderate convection is evident from 01N to 04N between 18W and 25W.

Another Atlantic tropical wave is near the border of Suriname and French Guiana, and south of 10N, moving westward around 10 kt. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is present near and off the coast of Suriname and French Guiana.

Monsoon Trough Itcz

A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic through the coast of Sierra Leone to 01N21W. An ITCZ continues southwestward from 01N21W to beyond 00N24W. Scattered moderate convection is found south of the monsoon trough from 01N to 03N west of 14W. Scattered moderate convection is occurring farther north of the ITCZ from 00N to 05N between 33W and 50W.

Gulf Of America

A surface trough curves west-southwestward from northern Florida to near the coastal border of Texas and Louisiana. Widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are present south of New Orleans and the Florida Panhandle. To the southwest, a 1009 mb low near 22N96W is coupling with abundant tropical moisture to trigger numerous heavy showers and scattered strong thunderstorms at the southwestern Gulf, including the western Bay of Campeche. Otherwise, a broad surface ridge is promoting light to gentle winds and 1 to 2 ft seas at the eastern Gulf, including the Florida Straits. Gentle to moderate SE to S winds and seas of 2 to 4 ft prevail elsewhere in the Gulf.

For the forecast, the low will continue to produce scattered thunderstorms over the southwestern Gulf into Mon. Fresh to strong SE winds will pulse each evening offshore the Yucatan Peninsula as a diurnal trough moves off the coast. A cold front will move off the Texas coast Mon morning, reach from Tampa Bay to near Veracruz, Mexico Tue, then exit the Gulf Wed. Numerous thunderstorms are expected along this frontal boundary. Behind the front, mainly tranquil conditions will set in, but some fresh NW winds are likely offshore Veracruz Tue.

Caribbean Sea

Please read the Special Features section above on an upcoming Gale Warning.

Fresh to strong ENE to E trade winds and seas of 9 to 12 ft are present at the south-central and part of the southwestern basin. Mostly fresh E to SE winds and 5 to 8 ft seas dominate the north- central basin, and the Gulf of Honduras. Gentle to moderate SE winds and seas at 3 to 5 ft exist at the lee of Cuba and near Jamaica. Moderate to fresh NE to ESE winds and 4 to 7 ft seas prevail for the rest of the Caribbean Sea.

For the forecast, as mentioned in the Special Feature section, a tight pressure gradient will support fresh to strong easterly trade winds with rough seas in the south-central basin through late week, including the Gulf of Venezuela. Strong winds and locally rough seas are anticipated in the Gulf of Honduras through Mon night. Moderate to fresh trades are expected across the remainder of the eastern and central Caribbean.

Atlantic Ocean

Convergent southerly winds near a stationary front off the Georgia coast are creating scattered moderate convection off northeast Florida, north of 29N. Refer to the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section for additional convection in the Atlantic Basin. Gentle to moderate S to SW winds and 3 to 5 ft seas exist north of 25N between 70W and the Florida coast. To the east, a broad subtropical ridge is supporting light to gentle winds and seas of 4 to 5 ft north of 25N between 35W and 70W. From 15N to 25N between 35W and the Bahamas, gentle to moderate NE to ESE winds and 5 to 6 ft seas are noted. Moderate to fresh NE to E winds with 5 to 7 ft seas prevail for the remainder of the Atlantic Basin west of 35W.

For the forecast west of 55W, high pressure dominates the much of the basin, with the pressure gradient between it and lower pressure in the Caribbean supporting fresh to locally strong winds off northern Hispaniola through Mon night. A cold front is expected to reach the waters off northeastern Florida late Mon and move eastward while weakening Tue and Wed. Fresh to locally strong winds and rough seas will follow the front before improving Wed as the front weakens. Scattered thunderstorms, some strong, are likely near the front. In the wake of the cold front, high pressure building over the central Atlantic will support moderate to fresh SE to S winds and moderate to rough seas east of 70W late this week.

Chan Posted about 3 hours ago by NHC Forecaster