Special Features

Gulf of America Gale Warning: Fresh to strong N to NE winds and rough seas will occur behind a cold front entering the northwestern Gulf today, mainly west of 90W. Winds will briefly reach gale force offshore of Veracruz this afternoon. Winds will diminish from north to south tonight into Mon as the cold front exits the basin and high pressure builds over the southeastern United States.

Atlantic Ocean Significant Swell Event: A mixed cold and stationary front that extends from 31N38W to 27N57W to 31N75W will dissipate later today. Rough seas associated with this front will expand farther south and east and produce very rough seas of 12 to 23 ft across areas north of 25N and east of 55W by late morning, and north of 20N and east of 50W by Mon morning.

Please, refer to the latest NWS High Seas Forecast, that is issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the website: www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, for details.

Monsoon Trough/ITCZ

The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic near 05N03W and extends to 08N18W. The ITCZ continues from 08N18W to 01S40W. Scattered moderate convection is occurring south of 04N and east of 23W, and south of 05N and west of 40W.

Gulf Of America

Please refer to the Special Features section regarding information on a Gale Warning in the southwestern Gulf of America today.

A cold front is moving through the north-central Gulf of America, producing scattered moderate convection north of 27N between 86W and 92W. Fresh to strong S to SW winds are noted surrounding the cold front, where locally rough seas are occurring. Farther south, moderate to fresh SE winds are noted in the south-central and southeastern Gulf ahead of the front. Winds are turning to the NW in the northwestern Gulf behind the front.

For the forecast, fresh to strong S to SW winds will occur in the north-central and northeastern Gulf this morning ahead of the next cold front entering the northwestern Gulf. Fresh to strong N to NE winds and rough seas will occur behind the front today, mainly west of 90W. Winds will briefly reach gale force offshore of Veracruz this afternoon. Winds will diminish from north to south tonight into Mon as the cold front exits the basin and high pressure builds over the southeastern United States. Looking ahead, a cold front will enter the northwestern Gulf by midweek and progress southeastward, leading to fresh to strong winds across northern and western portions of the basin. Gale force winds will be possible west of the front off Tampico, Mexico Wed, and off Veracruz, Mexico Wed night and Thu.

Caribbean Sea

The eastern extent of the monsoon trough extends through the south-central Caribbean, otherwise, broad ridging covers the basin. Near-gale force winds are occurring offshore of northwestern Colombia, where seas to 11 ft are likely. Widespread fresh E winds and rough seas are noted across the central and eastern Caribbean, with locally strong winds downwind of Hispaniola, in the Windward Passage and through the Atlantic Passages. Winds are pulsing to fresh speeds in the Gulf of Honduras, otherwise, moderate E to SE winds prevail in the western basin.

For the forecast, near-gale force winds and rough seas up to 11 ft will occur offshore of Colombia this morning. Fresh trade winds and rough seas are expected across central and eastern portions of the Caribbean through Mon morning as a strong pressure gradient prevails between low pressure over northern Colombia and high pressure in the central and western Atlantic. Winds will pulse to strong speeds in the central Caribbean, in the Gulf of Honduras, through the Atlantic Passages and in the Windward Passage today. Expect moderate to fresh trade winds and locally rough seas across the basin this week, with locally strong winds mainly confined to offshore of Colombia and in the Gulf of Venezuela.

Atlantic Ocean

Please refer to the Special Features section for details about the Significant Swell Event for the Atlantic Ocean.

A cold front extends from 31N36W to 27N57W, and a stationary front continues to 29N72W. Moderate N to E winds and rough to very rough seas are occurring along and north of these fronts. Very rough seas of 12 to 20 ft are likely north of 28N between 40W and 60W. Farther west, fresh to strong S winds are noted offshore of Florida. Otherwise, moderate to fresh E winds prevail south of 25N, with locally strong trades east of the Windward Islands. Rough seas in E swell prevail in this region.

For the forecast, fresh to strong S winds and rough seas will occur off the coast of Florida today as low pressure strengthens over the southeastern United States. Strong winds will expand farther east, impacting areas north of 28N and west of 60W through tonight. A cold front associated with the low will move into the waters later today, leading to fresh to locally strong NW to W winds behind the front north of 28N and west of 70W. Winds will diminish on Mon as the front moves eastward and eventually dissipates. Elsewhere, a mixed cold and stationary front that extends from 31N38W to 27N57W to 31N75W will dissipate later today. Rough seas associated with this front will expand farther south and east and produce rough seas across areas north of 23N by late morning. Locally very rough seas of 12 to 14 ft will be possible north of 27N and east of 58W this morning. Farther south, fresh trade winds and rough seas will prevail south of 23N through the middle of the week, with locally strong winds pulsing north of Hispaniola and through the Windward Passage.

Posted 0 minutes ago by NHC Forecaster Adams