Tropical Weather Discussion
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371 AXNT20 KNHC 211040 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1205 UTC Sat Sep 21 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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0930 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Potential Heavy Rainfall in Central America: A Central American Gyre (CAG) is forecast to gradually develop over Central America this weekend, possibly near Costa Rica and Panama this weekend. It will slowly drift NW across Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Yucatan Peninsula through the middle of next week. Aided by abundant tropical moisture already in the region, this system may produce significant rainfall near Panama this weekend, then Costa Rica and eastern Nicaragua late this weekend through early next week. Afterward, heavy rain may spread over central and northern Guatemala and western Honduras during the first half of next week, and into Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula late next week. This will lead to an increased potential for life- threatening flash flooding and mudslides in these areas. It is recommended that residents in the aforementioned areas stay alert on the latest information from their local meteorological agencies. Please refer to the Tropical Weather Discussion for the Eastern Pacific at website: https://www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATWDEP.shtml for rainfall across El Salvador and the Pacific coasts of Nicaragua, Guatemala, and southern Mexico. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic along the coast of Gambia, then extends southwestward through 10N29W to 08N35W. An ITCZ then stretches from 08N35W to 10N51W. Scattered moderate convection is noted near and south of the trough from 06N to 14N between the central Africa coast and 18W. The eastern end of the East Pacific monsoon trough is producing numerous moderate to isolated strong convection across the Caribbean waters near northwestern Colombia. ...GULF OF MEXICO... Convection associated with a weak surface trough over the Florida Straits has dissipated overnight, with high pressure of 1012 mb centered along the Mississippi coast dominating Gulf weather and leading to dry conditions. Gentle E winds and seas of 1 to 3 ft prevail. For the forecast, high pressure will dominate into early next week. A broad area of low pressure may form by the early to middle portions of next week over the NW Caribbean and adjacent portions of Central America. Thereafter, gradual development of this system is possible, and a tropical depression could form as the system moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and into the southern Gulf of Mexico through the end of next week. There is a medium chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next seven days. Regardless of development, winds and seas will start increasing across the SE Gulf early next week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Please refer to the SPECIAL FEATURES section above for potential heavy rainfall and already increasing convection associated with a developing Central American Gyre (CAG). Refer to the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section for additional convection in the Caribbean Sea. Gentle to moderate E to SE winds and seas at 3 to 5 ft are present across the south- central and southeastern basin. Gentle E winds and seas of 2 to 4 ft prevail elsewhere in the Caribbean Sea. For the forecast, moderate to fresh winds and moderate seas are expected across the E and central Caribbean through tonight. Looking ahead, a broad area of low pressure could form by the early to middle part of next week over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and adjacent parts of Central America. Thereafter, gradual development of this system is possible, and a tropical depression could form as the system moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and into the southern Gulf of Mexico through the end of next week. There is a medium chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next seven days. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... See the Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section above for details on convection in the eastern Tropical Atlantic offshore Africa. Low pressure of 1008 mb centered near 25N55W is inducing scattered moderate convection within about 90 nm of the center in the NE quadrant, along with fresh winds and seas to 7 ft within about 180 nm of the center in the NE semicircle. Environmental conditions do not appear conducive for significant development of this system during the next couple of days while it drifts northwestward over the central or western subtropical Atlantic. To the east, another low pressure of 1005 mb, the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon, is centered near 26N42W. This low is inducing scattered moderate convection E of the center, from 23N to 30N, extending E to 32W. Within this area of scattered showers and thunderstorm, fresh to locally strong winds and seas to 8 ft prevail. The precipitation is being sheared away from the center by strong upper level winds, and these winds are forecast to prevent significant development of this low as it meanders over the central subtropical Atlantic during the next couple days. Elsewhere, a surface trough stretches from around 31N73W, across the NW Bahamas, and into the Florida Straits. This trough is leading to scattered moderate convection over the central and NW Bahamas. Gentle to moderate NE winds are noted NW of this trough axis. Other areas of central to moderate winds are noted within about 150 nm of the South American coast as well as in the vicinity of the Cabo Verde Islands, extending E to the coast of Africa. Elsewhere in the basin, winds are light to gentle. Seas aside from the areas already mentioned average 3 to 6 ft. For the forecast W of 55W, a weak cold front will exit the southeast coast of the US tonight and slowly move across the waters north of 25N into Mon night. $$ Konarik