Tropical Weather Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
957 AXNT20 KNHC 022141 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0015 UTC Sat Jan 3 2026 Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of America, 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2200 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Meteo-France Gale Warning East of 35W: The tight pressure gradient between a complex low pressure system north of Madeira and a 1024 mb high pressure over Libya results in strong to gale-force winds in the Meteo-France Agadir High Seas Marine Zone from 03/06z to 03/18z. Refer to the Meteo-France High Seas Forecast listed on their website https://wwmiws.wmo.int for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... A monsoon trough remains mostly over the African Continent. An ITCZ extends west-southwestward from 08N15W through 05N26W to 04N43W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 05N to 08N between 26W and 30W. ...GULF OF AMERICA... A 1018 mb high centered near 24N86W continues to dominate the basins weather. Moderate to fresh SW winds and 4 to 6 ft are noted in the northern and far western Gulf. Light to gentle winds with 1 to 3 ft seas prevail for the rest of the Gulf. For the forecast, moderate to fresh SW winds and moderate seas at the northwestern Gulf are expected to expand eastward into the northeastern Gulf tonight, as a warm front associated with a low pressure system lifts northward. Briefly strong SW winds will be possible on Sat. A cold front will enter the northern Gulf Sat afternoon and progress into the central Gulf through Sun, supporting moderate to locally fresh N winds in the wake of the front. High pressure will settle over the Gulf early next week, leading to moderate or weaker winds and slight seas. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Convection associated with a surface trough extending from offshore Colombia through the Windward Passage has diminished late this afternoon. Fresh NE winds and seas of 5 to 7 ft are present in the southern and central basin, with gentle to moderate winds and 3 to 6 ft seas in the NE and NW parts of the basin. For the forecast, moderate to locally fresh N to NE winds occurring west of 75W will diminish through this evening. Moderate to occasionally fresh trade winds are expected over the central and southeastern Caribbean into early Mon as a broad subtropical ridge prevails to the north. Winds may pulse to strong speeds in the Gulf of Venezuela through Sat evening. Looking ahead, fresh NE winds may develop near the Greater Antilles through the Atlantic passages early next week as high pressure builds to the north. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... See the Special Features section above for information on a Meteo- France Gale Warning. A stationary front extends southwestward from the north-central Atlantic across 31N54W to 24N64W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted SE of this boundary from 21N to 28N between 54W and 64W. Refer to the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section for additional convection in the Atlantic Basin. Strong northwest winds behind a cold front in the far NE waters are impact waters N of 28N and E of 28W, where very rough seas of up to 18 ft are ongoing. A broader area of fresh winds and rough seas extend S to 22N and W to 32W. W of the aforementioned stationary front in the central Atlantic, fresh winds are S of Bermuda, N of 28N between 60W and 75W, where rough seas are also present. Finally, moderate to fresh trades and seas of 6 to 8 ft are ongoing S 13N between 30W and the Windward Islands. Elsewhere, winds and seas are moderate or less, as the basin is dominated by a high pressure in the Gulf of America and another near 30N40W. For the forecast west of 55W, moderate to locally fresh W winds are expected north of 29N through Sat morning as a low pressure system emerges off the coast of the Mid Atlantic states and moves eastward. Residual rough seas in NW swell occurring north of 29N between 70W and 55W will subside through Sat morning. Fresh to strong SW winds will develop over the northwest tropical Atlantic on Sat ahead of a low pressure system moving through the southeastern U.S. Localized winds near-gale force will be possible offshore of northern Florida Sat night, and rough seas are expected near and to the east of these winds. A cold front is slated to push offshore of the southeastern U.S. Sat night into Sun and progress eastward through early next week, supporting fresh to strong SW winds and rough seas ahead of the front, and fresh to locally strong N to NW winds and rough seas in the wake of the front. Looking ahead, high pressure will build north of the region early next week. $$ Konarik