Special Features

Gale Warning East of 35W: Meteo-France has issued a GALE WARNING for the Canarias Offshore Zone. The forecast calls for N to NE winds to Force 8 on the Beaufort Wind Scale, with severe gusts between the Canary Islands through at least 28/0000 UTC. These winds are producing rough seas.

For more information, please see the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by Meteo-France at website: https://wwmiws.wmo.int/index.php/metareas/affiches/2

Central and Eastern Atlantic Significant Swell Event: A robust high pressure system over the Azores supports fresh to near gale- force trade winds and rough to very rough seas across the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. These wind waves are mixing with a decaying swell in the area. The rough to very rough seas will spread westward over the next few days, peaking around 14 ft Sat night to Sun. Seas will diminish by midweek.

Please read the latest NWS High Seas Forecast 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 enters the Atlantic through the coast of Sierra Leone near 07N12W to 04N17W. The ITCZ extends from 04N17W to 04S37W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is observed south of 08N and east of 27W.

Gulf Of America

A broad subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic extends into the Gulf of America, supporting mainly moderate southerly winds across the basin. Seas in these waters are 4-7 ft.

For the forecast, moderate southerly return flow in the Gulf will gradually diminish this morning ahead of a cold front approaching the NW Gulf. This front will reach the basin this morning, slowly sink southward across the northern half of the Gulf through Sat night and gradually dissipate. High pressure N of the Gulf will build back across the basin Sun into early next week, supporting moderate to fresh winds.

Caribbean Sea

A tight pressure gradient across the central Caribbean Sea sustain fresh to strong easterly winds and rough seas. Moderate to fresh easterly breezes and moderate seas are found in the eastern Caribbean and Gulf of Honduras. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate seas prevail.

For the forecast, a broad ridge over the central Atlantic will support fresh to strong easterly trade winds and moderate to rough seas across the central and eastern Caribbean over the next several days. Building ridge by the middle of next week may result in near gale-force winds off Colombia. Rough seas in mixed swell will prevail in the tropical N Atlantic through early next week. Elsewhere, mainly moderate to fresh winds will prevail.

Atlantic Ocean

A Gale Warning is in effect E of 35W, and a Significant Swell Event continues to affect the waters over the central and eastern Atlantic. Please, see the Special Features section above for more information.

A robust 1035 mb high pressure system over the Azores extends to the Bahamas. Moderate to fresh southerly winds and moderate seas are found west of 75W. The tight pressure gradient between the aforementioned ridge and lower pressures in the deep tropics and western Africa result in fresh to near gale-force easterly winds and rough seas over much of the central and eastern Atlantic. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas are prevalent.

For the forecast west of 55W, rough seas prevail over the SE waters. A weak front will shift off the SE U.S. Coast early Sat and move slowly southeastward and weaken across the waters W of 65W through Sun night before dissipating. Another cold front will enter the northern waters early next week and gradually shift southeastward and weaken. Fresh to strong easterly winds and rough seas are forecast behind the front Mon night through Tue night north of 27N. The subtropical ridge will build by the middle of next week, resulting in moderate to fresh winds and rough seas over much of the basin.

Posted 3 hours ago by NHC Forecaster Delgado