Special Features

Caribbean Gale Warning: A strong ridge north of the Caribbean Sea is supporting gale-force NE winds that will prevail through this morning over the waters offshore Colombia. Winds will continue to pulse to near-gale in the same area through the end of the week. Rough seas are forecast with these winds.

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 enters the Atlantic through the coast of Africa near 08N13W and continues southwestward to 02N27W. The ITCZ extends from 02N27W to 00N50W. Scattered moderate convection is noted S of 07N and E of 32W.

Gulf Of America

High pressure over the western Atlantic extends a ridge to the Gulf waters, supporting moderate to fresh easterly winds and moderate seas east of 90W. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas prevail. Light showers are evident in the Florida Straits due to a dissipating stationary front.

For the forecast, the next cold front is expected to enter the NW Gulf Sat followed by fresh to strong NW to N winds and building seas. Reinforcing high pressure in the wake of the front, may bring near-gale to gale conditions first near Tampico Sun night, then near Veracruz on Mon.

Caribbean Sea

Please read the Special Features section on a Gale Warning off the coast of Colombia.

Outside of the south-central Caribbean, a surface trough, and associated area of moisture, has entered the eastern Caribbean enhancing convection. A strong subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic supports moderate to strong easterly winds and rough seas in the north-central and NE Caribbean, including the Windward Passage. Moderate to fresh easterly breezes and moderate seas are found in the SE Caribbean and lee of Cuba. Elsewhere, moderate or lighter winds and moderate seas are evident.

For the forecast, gale force NE winds will prevail through early this morning over the waters offshore Colombia. Winds will continue to pulse to near-gale in the same area through the end of the week. The trough in the E Caribbean will continue moving W through the week, increasing the likelihood of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the islands and surrounding waters.

Atlantic Ocean

A surface trough is analyzed from 30N72W to 23N80W. A few showers are noted near this boundary. The tropical Atlantic is dominated by an extensive, strong ridge north of Bermuda, supporting fresh to strong easterly trade winds and rough seas south of 27N and east of 75W. The strongest winds and highest seas are found south of 20N and between the Lesser Antilles and Africa. Moderate to fresh easterly winds and moderate to rough seas are noted west of 75W. Elsewhere, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas are prevalent. A weak surface trough east of the Lesser Antilles and divergence aloft sustains scattered showers south of 20N and east of 47W.

For the forecast west of 55W, the Atlantic high pressure will continue to promote fresh to strong NE to E winds and rough seas east of 75W through today. The pressure gradient over the W Atlantic will continue to support fresh NE winds in the vicinity of the Bahamas and the Straits of Florida through this morning. The next cold front will likely move offshore NE FL by Mon. Ahead of the front, fresh to strong SW winds are possible on Sun night, mainly W of 75W.

Posted 3 hours ago by NHC Forecaster Era