Tropical Weather Discussion
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535 AXNT20 KNHC 172345 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0005 UTC Tue Jun 18 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2335 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... The broad disturbance in the Bay of Campeche has been designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone One (PTC One). Potential Tropical Cyclone One is near 20.3N 93.2W at 5 PM EDT, and is moving north- northwest at 6 kt. Maximum sustained winds are 35 kt with gusts to 45 kt, and the minimum central pressure is 1001 mb. Seas are peaking near 12 ft in the south-central Gulf, near 24N89W. Numerous moderate to scattered strong convection is observed west of 77W in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rains are also impacting portions of southern Mexico, Central America, western Cuba, Cayman Islands and Jamaica. A general northerly motion is expected to continue through Tuesday. A turn toward the west- northwest is expected Tuesday night or Wednesday, and system is likely to approach the western Gulf coast late Wednesday. Some slow strengthening is possible, and the disturbance is forecast to become a tropical storm by Wednesday. The broad system will continue to produce heavy rainfall across southern Mexico and western Central America during the next few days due to strong southwestern wind flow bringing copious amounts of moisture to the region. The heavy rains will also expand toward Texas and NE Mexico in the next couple of days. The threat to life and property increases as the event continues. Please read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National Hurricane Center at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml and the latest Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. ...TROPICAL WAVES... An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is along 29W, south of 16N, moving westward at 10-15 knots. No deep convection is noted near the trough axis. An eastern Caribbean tropical wave is along 64W, south of 17N, moving westward at 10-15 knots. No deep convection is noted near the trough axis. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic through the coast of Guinea-Bissau near 12N16W, then continues southwestward to 06N40W. The ITCZ extends from 06N40W to 08N58W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is present from 04N to 14N and east of 25W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is evident from 07N to 17N and between 51W and 60W. GULF OF MEXICO... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information on Potential Tropical Cyclone One and its impacts. Potential Tropical Cyclone One covers most of the Gulf of Mexico, producing numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms except in the NE Gulf and west of 95W. The strongest convection is seen in the Bay of Campeche. The pressure gradient between PTC One and the ridge in the NW Atlantic is supporting strong to minimal gale force winds E winds across most of the eastern Gulf, including the Yucatan Channel. Similar wind speeds are over the western Gulf N of 22N. Seas are 8-12 ft within these winds, with the highest seas across the waters from 22N-29N between 88W and 95W. Moderate to fresh winds are noted over the NE Gulf and in the Bay of Campeche with seas of 4-7 ft. For the forecast, Potential Tropical Cyclone One is near 20.3N 93.2W at 5 PM EDT, and is moving north-northwest at 6 kt. Maximum sustained winds are 35 kt with gusts to 45 kt, and the minimum central pressure is 1001 mb. One will move to 21.1N 93.4W Tue morning, 22.2N 93.8W Tue afternoon, 22.9N 95.0W Wed morning, 23.4N 96.4W Wed afternoon, 23.8N 97.7W Thu morning, and inland to 24.0N 98.9W Thu afternoon. One will move inland over 24.0N 101.4W by Fri afternoon. CARIBBEAN SEA... Please read the SPECIAL FEATURES section for information on Potential Tropical Cyclone One and its impacts. The broad nature of Potential Tropical Cyclone One results in scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the central and NW Caribbean Sea. Similar convection is also impacting Hispaniola. Drier conditions are noted elsewhere in the basin. The pressure gradient between PTC One and a 1026 mb high pressure system in the NW Atlantic sustains fresh to locally near gale-force SE winds in the NW Caribbean, especially west of 82W. Stronger gusts are possible with the strongest convection. Seas in these waters are 7-10 ft. Fresh to strong easterly winds and seas of 3-6 ft are noted in the south-central Caribbean. Moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate seas prevail elsewhere. For the forecast, Potential Tropical Cyclone One will move gradually toward NE Mexico over the next few days. The pressure gradient between the ridge and PTC One will continue to produce fresh to near gale-force SE winds through at least Wed night. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue to affect the NW Caribbean through midweek. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate trades over the central and E Caribbean will reach moderate to fresh speeds by midweek and prevail through late Fri. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A surface trough extends from 31N60W toward the Windward Passage. A weak 1014 mb low is analyzed along the trough axis near 24N67W. Scattered showers and thunderstorm are active along, and ahead this trough. Moderate to fresh NE winds and 4-5 ft seas are noted west of the trough, with moderate or weaker breezes and 3-5 ft seas elsewhere west of 55W. The remainder of the Atlantic discussion area is dominated by strong ridge north of the Azores. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures in NW Africa sustain fresh to strong northerly winds and seas of 6-8 ft from 17N to 26N and east of 21W. Elsewhere in the basin, gentle to moderate winds and seas in the 4-7 ft range prevail. For the forecast west of 55W, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms persist in the vicinity of a low pres and surface trough extending from 31N60W to the low near 24N67W to 21N74W. These features will continue to shift eastward through midweek. Moderate to fresh NE to E winds will persist N of 25N and west of 60W as high pressure continues to build in the wake of the low/trough. An area of cloudiness and thunderstorms located several hundred miles east of the Bahamas is associated with a surface trough and an upper- level area of low pressure. Environmental conditions could be conducive for some development of this system during the next few days while it moves westward or west-northwestward. The system is forecast to approach the coast of the southeast United States by the end of the week. Regardless of development, fresh to strong winds and rough seas will develop across the waters N of 25N tonight through Thu. $$ Delgado