Special Features

Gale Warning East of 35W: A Gale Warning remains in effect for the Canarias and Agadir Marine Zones of Meteo France. The forecast calls for NE winds to Force 8 on the Beaufort Wind Scale, with severe gusts between the Canary Islands through at least 01/0000 UTC. Seas currently range from 9 to 13 ft N of 10N and E of 30W based on a recent altimeter pass. Higher seas of 12 to 15 ft are possible just N of the Canary Islands.

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 near the Azores is maintaining fresh to strong trade winds across the eastern and central Atlantic. Wind waves generated by these winds will continue to generate seas of 8 to 13 ft across most of the waters between 20W and 60W, with highest seas E of 40W. This event will persist through early next week, while drifting SW.

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 along the coast of Guinea near 11N14W, then extends southwestward to 08N16W. The ITCZ continues from 08N16W to the coast of Brazil near 05S36W. Scattered moderate convection is noted along the ITCZ between 20W-26W.

Gulf Of America

A cold front extends across the northern Gulf from 30N85W to 26N97W. A pre-frontal trough is analyzed from 29N84W to 25N91W. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are ahead of the trough. This convective activity is further supported by a broad upper-level trough that is shifting eastward over the east-central Gulf. Light to gentle winds prevail across the basin, with seas in the 2 to 4 ft range.

For the forecast, the convection will progress southeastward tonight while the front slows down as it shifts east-southeastward across the northern half of the basin into Sat, and to east of the basin Sat night while weakening. A strong ridge of high pressure will build west- southwestward over the area from the N Atlantic beginning on Sun night, with the related gradient generally supporting moderate to fresh east to southeast winds across the Gulf.

Caribbean Sea

Strong high pressure N of the area combined with the Colombian low supports fresh to strong trade winds over the central Caribbean. Seas are 7 to 9 ft with these winds. Moderate to fresh trades and moderate seas dominate the eastern Caribbean while mainly gentle to moderate E to SE winds with moderate seas are noted over the NW part of the basin. Seas of 5 to 7 ft are noted across the Atlantic passages in the NE Caribbean.

For the forecast, the subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic will continue to support fresh to strong easterly trade winds and moderate to rough seas across the central and eastern Caribbean over the next several days. A tight pressure gradient between strong high pressure N of the area and relatively lower pressure in N Colombia will initiate gale-force winds off Colombia at night Mon through Wed, and fresh to strong trades elsewhere across most of the central and eastern portions of the basin. Rough seas in mixed swell will prevail in the tropical N Atlantic through early next week, with seas to 12 ft possibly near 55W. Elsewhere, little change is expected with moderate to fresh trades continuing through the period.

Atlantic Ocean

A Gale warning is in effect E of 35W. Please, see the Special Features section for more information.

A strong high pressure of 1035 mb, located near the Azores, extends a ridge across the entire Atlantic forecast waters. The tight pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in the deep tropics and western Africa result in fresh to strong easterly winds and rough seas over much of the central and eastern Atlantic. Fresh to strong S to SW winds and moderate seas are noted on the western periphery of the ridge N of the NW Bahamas and E of Florida. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas are prevalent.

For the forecast west of 55W, a weak front will emerge off the southeastern U.S. Coast early on Sat, and move slowly southeastward and weaken across the waters W of 65W through Sun night before dissipating. Scattered showers and thunderstorms ahead of the front are affecting the waters off Florida. Another cold front is expected to 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 along with seas to around 12 ft near 31N between 50W and 67W. High pressure will build by the middle of next week resulting in moderate to fresh winds and rough seas over much of the basin.

Posted 38 minutes ago by NHC Forecaster Era