Special Features

Gulf of America Gale Warning: A strong cold front extends from near Panama City, Florida southwestward to 20N95W then southward and inland across Mexico near Coatzacoalcos. Fresh to near gale- force N winds and rough to very rough seas are found behind the front. A recently scatterometer satellite pass indicate that northerly gales are occurring offshore Tampico, and are expected to begin across the waters near Veracruz by sunrise. These gale conditions are forecast to continue offshore Tampico until Mon morning and offshore Veracruz through late Mon night. The cold front will sweep across the rest of the basin tonight through Mon evening. Seas are expected to quickly build across the Gulf region through Mon reaching 16 or 17 ft. Marine conditions will improve quickly from NW to SE Tue through Wed as the front moves southeastward into the NW Caribbean and high pressure settles across the northern Gulf. Mariners are advised to keep up with the latest forecasts.

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

Monsoon Trough Itcz

The monsoon trough reaches the Atlantic through the coast of Guinea near 10N13W and continues southwestward to 07N18W. The ITCZ extends from 07N18W to 03N33W and to 00N50W. Scattered moderate convection is observed south of 08N and west of 20W.

GULF OF AMERICA,

Please read the Special Features section for details on the Gale Warning in effect for the western and SW Gulf.

A cold front extends from the western Florida panhandle to Veracruz, Mexico. The impacts behind the front are described in the Special Features section. Ahead of the front, moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate seas prevail.

For the forecast, outside of the Gale Warning area, the high will shift eastward beginning Thu as low pressure develops in the far western Gulf along a frontal boundary.

CARIBBEAN SEA,

Generally dry conditions prevail across the Caribbean waters. High pressure north of the area supports fresh to strong easterly winds and rough seas off northern Colombia. Moderate to fresh easterly breezes and moderate seas are prevalent in the north-central and eastern Caribbean and Gulf of Honduras. Elsewhere, moderate or lighter winds and slight to moderate seas are evident.

For the forecast, broad high pressure over the eastern Atlantic will maintain a ridge westward into the central Atlantic supporting mostly fresh trades over the eastern and central Caribbean as well as the Tropical N Atlantic waters through Tue, while fresh winds offshore of Colombia pulse to strong at night. Large E swell over the Tropical N Atlantic will slowly subside into early next week, with seas lingering to 8 ft through early Wed. A cold front will enter the NW Caribbean late Mon and begin to stall from eastern Cuba to northern Honduras by late Tue into Wed, weakening to a shearline Thu. Strong northerly winds will follow the front before briefly diminishing to mostly fresh on Wed, and increasing to fresh to strong Wed night and Thu as stronger high pressure builds southward across the N Gulf of America.

ATLANTIC OCEAN,

A tight pressure gradient supports fresh to strong southerly winds and rough seas north of 28N and west of 75W. Farther east, a cold front enters the tropical Atlantic near 31N44W and continues southwestward to 28N58W and then as a stationary front to 31N67W. Moderate to locally fresh E winds and rough seas are found north of the boundary. The remainder of the basin is under the influence of a broad subtropical ridge that sustains moderate to fresh easterly winds and moderate to rough seas south of 25N and between the Bahamas and Africa. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate to locally rough seas prevail. A band of multilayer clouds associated with very strong winds aloft persist across the tropical Atlantic, extending from NE South America all the way to W Africa.

For the forecast west of 55W, a stationary front extends across the NE zones from 28N55W to 31N67W. A broad ridge extends from 1029 mb high pressure near 35N57W southwestward to South Florida and the Straits of Florida. Fresh to strong S to SW winds over the NW forecast waters will continue through early Mon in advance of a strong cold front that is expected to move offshore northeast Florida on Mon morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will accompany the front. The front will reach from near 31N72W to the NW Bahamas and to west Cuba Mon evening, from near 31N56W to the SE Bahamas and to eastern Cuba Tue evening, then begin to become stationary and weaken as it reaches from near 31N50W to the SE Bahamas and to eastern Cuba Wed evening. Fresh to strong NW to N winds and rough seas are expected W of the front Mon afternoon through Tue afternoon. The frontal boundary will begin to dissipate on Thu as another strong cold front moves out across the western forecast waters, reaching from near 31N59W to Hispaniola by Thu evening then stall over the eastern portion Fri S of 26N.

Posted about 6 hours ago by NHC Forecaster Delgado