000 AXNT20 KNHC 311640 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Fri May 31 2024 Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, northern sections of South America, and Atlantic Ocean to the African coast from the Equator to 31N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis. Based on 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1630 UTC. ...TROPICAL WAVES... An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is near 28W from 11N southward, and moving west at 10-15 kt. Convection is described in the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section. A central Atlantic tropical wave is near 49W from 12N southward, and moving west at 10-15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is from 10N to 13N between 45W and 50W. A Caribbean tropical wave is along 72W from 18N near Cabo Rojo, República Dominicana southward across Lago de Maracaibo, and moving westward at 10-15 kt. Scattered showers are in the vicinity of the wave axis. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough extends from the coast of Africa near 10N13W to 06N25W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is from 03N to 10N east of 23W. The ITCZ extends from 05N31W to 08N45W. Scattered moderate convection is from 03N to 08N between 32W and 38W. GULF OF MEXICO... A squall line with embedded strong thunderstorms moved off the Texas coast and into the NW Gulf earlier this morning. As of 1500 UTC, the squall line extends from 30N93W near the Texas/Louisiana border to 27N97W near Corpus Christi, Texas. Buoy 42019 reported wind gusts to gale force as the squall line moved through. Elsewhere, the large scale (synoptic) conditions across the Gulf of Mexico are characterized by weak high pressure ridging. Gentle to moderate E to SE winds prevail, with locally fresh SE winds in the Bay of Campeche. Seas are 3-6 ft west of 90W, and 1-3 ft east of 90W. For the forecast, high pressure ridging will prevail across the Gulf waters through at least Sun, supporting moderate to fresh winds mainly over the western Gulf due to the pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures over Mexico. Fresh to strong NE to E winds will pulse near the northern and western portions of the Yucatan peninsula during the late afternoons and at night through Sun. Haze due to agricultural fires over Central America and Mexico will continue for at least the next couple of days and may reduce visibility at times. CARIBBEAN SEA... Please see the tropical waves section above. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is evident on satellite imagery in the SW Caribbean from 09N to 12N between 76W and 82W, likely enhanced by the extension of the East Pacific Monsoon Trough. Moderate to fresh trades prevail across most of the Caribbean, with 4-7 ft seas. In the NW Caribbean, trades are light gentle with 2-4 ft seas. For the forecast, the moderate pressure gradient between high pressure N of the area and low pressure near Colombia will continue support fresh to locally strong trade winds over the south- central Caribbean today. The pressure gradient will increase tonight into Sat as high pressure north of the area strengthens some. This will lead to fresh to strong trade winds across the central basin Sat through early Mon, with seas building to around 9 ft. Winds will slightly diminish by early next week. Looking ahead, the potential for heavy rains returns next week across Hispaniola, eastern Cuba, Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos, and the southeast and central Bahamas. Localized flooding is possible, especially where the ground remains very moist from recent heavy rain events. ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please see the tropical waves section above. In the W Atlantic, a decaying cold front is from 31N69W to 27N74W. Ahead of the boundary, scattered moderate convection is from 25N to 28N between 66W and 70W. In the east and central Atlantic, a weak cold front extends from 31N23W to 24N38W where a surface trough then continues to 31N51W. 1020 mb high pressures are centered near 23N31W and 26N51W. These high pressures provide for gentle to moderate trades across the tropical Atlantic, with 4-6 ft seas. For the forecast, a frontal trough will move eastward across the forecast waters through Sun. High pressure building in behind the frontal trough will tighten the pressure gradient across the region, bringing moderate to fresh winds and across waters north of 24N, along with building seas E of the Bahamas. Marine conditions will slightly improve across the waters by early next week. $$ Mahoney