Tropical Weather Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
192 AXNT20 KNHC 081752 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1805 UTC Fri Nov 8 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 1730 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...HURRICANE RAFAEL... The center of Hurricane Rafael, at 08/1500 UTC, is in the south central Gulf of Mexico, close to 24.5N 88.8W. Rafael is moving toward the W, or 270 degrees 08 knots. The estimated minimum central pressure is 961 mb. The maximum sustained wind speeds are 95 knots with gusts to 115 knots. Hurricane-force wind speeds are within: 25 nm of the center in the NE quadrant; 20 nm of the center in the SE quadrant; 20 nm of the center in the SW quadrant; and 25 nm of the center in the NW quadrant. Tropical storm-force winds are within: 80 nm of the center in the NE quadrant; 70 nm of the center in the SE quadrant; 60 nm of the center in the SW quadrant; and 80 nm of the center in the NW quadrant. The sea heights of 12 feet or greater are within: 270 nm of the center in the NE quadrant; 90 nm of the center in the SE quadrant; 120 nm of the center in the SW quadrant; and 240 nm of the center in the NW quadrant. The maximum sea height value is 33 feet. Expect for the next 24 hours or so: from 23N to 29N between 85W and 91W strong to near gale-force winds, and rough to very rough seas in E to SE swell. Expect for the remainder of the area that is from 22N to 30N between 84W and 94W: winds 20 knots or less, and rough to very rough seas in E to SE swell.. Precipitation: numerous strong is within 125 nm of the center in the NW quadrant. Isolated moderate to locally strong is elsewhere from 28N southward from 93W eastward. Please, read the latest High Seas Forecasts, and the latest Offshore Waters Forecasts, that are issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the websites - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, and https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php, for more information. Please, refer to the NHC Forecast/Advisory, and the Public Advisory, visit www.hurricanes.gov for more details about Hurricane Rafael. ...EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISK IN SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA... Upper level cyclonic wind flow with a trough covers the area to the west of 20N63W 10N70W. A surface trough is along 25N67W in the Atlantic Ocean, to the eastern part of the Dominican Republic, to 16N70W in the Caribbean Sea. This trough is moving westward 10 knots to 15 knots since this morning. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is in parts of the Caribbean Sea and in parts of the Atlantic Ocean, from 16N to 25N between 56W and 76W. A low pressure center is supposed to form off the western coast of Nicaragua later today. This feature is expected to persist in this general area through early next week. Pacific Ocean moisture will enhance extreme rainfall in Costa Rica. A Central American Gyre (CAG) is forecast to start developing more to the south during this afternoon. It is possible for heavy rainfall to reach Panama for the next several days. Please, refer to your local weather bureau for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is near 63W/64W, from 15N southward0, moving westward 10 knots to 15 knots. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is from 18N southward between 55W and 75W, from parts of the Atlantic Ocean into the Caribbean Sea. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coastal plains of Liberia near 06N10W, to 04N15W. The ITCZ continues from 04N15W, to 04N28W and 04N40W. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is from 07N southward between 30W and 40W. Isolated moderate to locally strong is in the remainder of the area that is from 10N southward from 60W eastward. ...GULF OF MEXICO... Please, refer to the SPECIAL FEATURES section, for details about Hurricane Rafael. Mostly moderate or slower winds, and slight seas, are away from Hurricane Rafael, to the west of the hurricane. Some fresh winds are from 26N northward from 92W westward. Hurricane Rafael is centered near 24.5N 88.8W at 1500 UTC, or 200 nm NNE of Progreso Mexico, moving W at 8 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 961 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 95 kt with gusts to 115 kt. Some minor fluctuations in intensity are possible today, before a steady weakening trend begins tonight through the weekend. A general westward to west- northwestward motion at a slower forward speed is expected through the weekend. On the forecast track, Rafael is expected to move slowly over the central Gulf of Mexico for the next few days, reaching near 24.7N 89.8W this evening, near 25.1N 91.0W Sat morning, near 25.8N 91.9W Sun morning as a tropical storm, near 25.5N 91.6W Mon morning, and near 23.7N 92.0W Tue morning and a 30 kt remnant low. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Please, read the SPECIAL FEATURES section, about the potential for heavy rainfall in Costa Rica and in Panama. Slight to moderate seas are from the Windward Passage eastward. Slight seas are in the remainder of the Caribbean Sea. Upper level cyclonic wind flow with a trough covers the area to the west of 20N63W 10N70W. The monsoon trough is along 09N/10N between 75W in Colombia, to Costa Rica, through SW Nicaragua, to El Salvador and southern Guatemala, and into the Pacific Ocean. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is from the border of Honduras/Nicaragua southward from 75W westward. Isolated moderate to locally strong is from 15N northward from 80W westward, to the southeast of Hurricane Rafael. Hurricane Rafael is centered near 24.5N 88.8W over the south central Gulf of Mexico, while weak high pressure is located just W of Bermuda. Fresh NE winds and locally rough seas will continue today through the Windward Passage and downwind of Hispaniola before diminishing by this evening. Otherwise, gentle to moderate E trade winds and slight to moderate seas are expected through the forecast period. Large N swell across the Atlantic will move through the NE Caribbean Passages Mon through Tue. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1014 mb low pressure center is close to 28N23W. A stationary front extends northeastward beyond 31N22W. A shear line extends from the 1014 mb low pressure center, to 23N30W 22N40W 22N59W 21N62W. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is from 24N northward from 26W eastward. Isolated moderate to locally strong is within 120 nm on either side of the rest of the shear line. Moderate to fresh winds NE winds, and locally strong winds, and rough seas, are from 21N to 26N between 45W and the Bahamas. Moderate easterly winds, and moderate seas in mixed moderate swells, are from 26N northward between 35W and the Georgia/northern Florida coast. Moderate to locally fresh ENE to SE winds, and moderate to rough seas in mixed moderate swells, are from the Equator to 20N between 35W and the Lesser Antilles. Fresh to locally strong E winds and rough seas occurring north of a shear line, located along 21N to the north of the Greater Antilles, will diminish by tonight into Sat morning. A trough of low pressure located just N of the Dominican Republic continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some gradual development of this system is possible during the next couple of days while it moves westward toward the Bahamas. Looking ahead, another strong cold front will move southward into the forecast waters on Sat, leading to widespread fresh to strong NE to E winds and rough to very rough seas in N swell north of the Greater Antilles through this weekend. The N swell will continue to progress southeastward early next week. Elsewhere, moderate to locally fresh E trades and moderate to rough seas will occur east of the Windward Islands through the forecast period. $$ mt/ss