Tropical Weather Discussion
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926 AXNT20 KNHC 200506 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0605 UTC Thu Jun 20 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 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0506 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Tropical Storm Alberto is centered near 21.5N 95.9W at 20/0300 UTC moving west at 8 kt. The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb, and the maximum sustained wind speed is 45 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Peak seas are up to 16 ft, with the radii of seas 12 ft or greater extending within 420 nm of the center in the NE quadrant and within 390 nm of the center in the NW quadrant. Satellite imagery shows numerous moderate to strong convection in wide banding features that extend along and to well inland the coast of Mexico from 19N to 22N between 94W and 98W and from 22N to 27N between 96W and 100W. Alberto westward motion is expected to continue for the next day or so. On this track, the center of Alberto is expected to reach the Gulf coast of Mexico early Thursday. Some slight strengthening is possible tonight before the center of Alberto reaches land. Weakening is expected once the center moves inland, and Alberto is likely to dissipate over Mexico on Thursday or Thursday night. Alberto is a large tropical storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 400 nm from the center. Alberto is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across northeast Mexico into South Texas. Maximum totals around 20 inches are possible across the higher terrain of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. This rainfall will likely produce considerable flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding. Mudslides are also possible in areas of higher terrain across northeast Mexico. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the north of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of northeastern Mexico in areas of onshore winds north of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Please consult products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office, and read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National Hurricane Center at website https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml and the latest Alberto NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. Gale Warning E of 35W: Strong high pressure that is currently north of the Azores will shift southeastward through late Fri. A tightening of the pressure gradient between the high pressure and relatively lower pressures in West Africa will support gale- force (Force 8 on the Beaufort Wind Scale) with severe gusts for the marine zone of AGADIR beginning at 12Z on June 20 and lasting to 00Z June 21th according to the METEO-FRANCE High Seas warning issued at 1905Z today. Please read the latest High Seas Forecast issued by Meteo-France for more details at website https://wwmiws.wmo.int/index.php/metareas/display/2 ...TROPICAL WAVES... An eastern Atlantic tropical wave have been relocated and is axis is analyzed along 28W from 04N to 17N. No significant convection is depicted at this time in association with this wave. A central Atlantic tropical wave has its axis along 44W from 04N to 16N, moving westward at around 15 kt. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are found from 08N to 10N between the wave axis and 48W. A central Atlantic tropical wave has its axis along 58W south of 16N, moving westward at 10 to 15 kt. This wave originated in the mid-latitudes and moved southward to become embedded within the tradewind easterlies. As typical for these types of tropical waves that originate in the mid-latitude, it is embedded within dry air so there is no significant convection noted at this time. Scattered moderate convection is depicted from 08.5N to 10N between 53W and the wave axis. The central Caribbean tropical wave has been absorbed by the large monsoon circulation that remains around Tropical Storm Alberto. A cluster of moderate to strong convection is depicted south of 11N moving off the coast of west Africa. This activity is likely related to the next tropical wave. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough passes through the coast of Africa near 14N17W and continues southwestward to 10N22W. The ITCZ extends from 10N22W to 10N27W to 10N30W to 08N42W to 08N45W and to 06N53W. Scattered moderate convection is found from 05N to 10N between 30W and 40W. ...GULF OF MEXICO... Please read the Special Features section for information on Tropical Storm Alberto and its impacts. Alberto is the main feature over the basin. Aside from impacts discussed above, a tight gradient between high pressure centered over the southeastern U.S. and Tropical Storm Alberto is supporting strong to near-gale force easterly winds over the Gulf waters west of 88W, with fresh to strong winds east of 88W, including the Yucatan Channel. Seas of 12 to to 18 ft are found west of 90W. Seas are 8 to 12 ft between 85W and 90W. Elsewhere seas are 5 to 8 ft. For the forecast, Tropical Storm Alberto is near 21.5N 95.9W at 11 PM EDT, and is moving west at 8 kt. Maximum sustained winds are 45 kt with gusts to 55 kt, and the minimum central pressure is 993 mb. Alberto will move inland to 21.7N 98.6W Thu morning, and dissipate Thu evening. Another broad area of low pressure is forecast to form near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Friday. Environmental conditions appear to be conducive for gradual development thereafter, and this system could become a tropical depression over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico this weekend while it moves slowly west-northwestward or northwestward. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... A tight gradient between the broad cyclonic circulation associated to Tropical Storm Alberto and high pressure ridging that stretches southward from the southeastern U.S. to Florida and western Cuba is supporting fresh to strong southeast winds over the northwestern Caribbean west of about 83W, including the Gulf of Honduras. Seas over this sections of the sea are in the 7 to 10 ft range. Moderate to fresh southeast winds are between 81W and 83W. Moderate to fresh trade winds are east of 76W and gentle to moderate trade winds are elsewhere. Seas elsewhere across the basin are in the range 3 to 5 ft. A very unstable atmospheric environment in place, mainly a result of a broad upper-level low that is north of the basin near the central Bahamas has assisted in the development of numerous moderate to isolated strong convection west of 69W. For the forecast, fresh to near gale-force SE winds and rough seas over the NW Caribbean will diminish to moderate to fresh speeds and moderate seas Sat afternoon through early next week. Moderate to fresh trade winds will continue across the eastern and central Caribbean through Sat before diminishing to moderate speeds. Winds will pulse to strong speeds over the south- central Caribbean through Fri night. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1013 mb low pressure near 26.4N72.3W (Invest-AL92) has formed about 300 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas this evening with disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity from 25N to 29N between 70W and 75W. Scattered moderate convection is depicted from 20N to 23N between 65W and 75W and between 78W and the Straits of Florida. A stationary front enters the area through 31N51W and continues to 29N59W and to 30N67W. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are depicted ahead of the stationary front north of 28N between 40W and 51W. The pressure gradient between these features and high pressure to the north is inducing fresh to strong northeast to east winds north of a line from 30N60W to 29N69W, and to 26N75W. These winds are producing seas in the range of 8 to 12 ft. Elsewhere north of 20N, winds are mainly gentle to moderate in speeds with seas in the range of 4 to 6 ft. Moderate to fresh winds are over the tropical Atlantic with seas of 6 to 10 ft. For the forecast west of 55W, a small area of low pressure has formed about 300 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas this evening with disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. While environmental conditions are only marginally conducive due to nearby dry air, further development of this system is possible while the low moves west-northwestward and approaches the northeastern coast of Florida or Georgia early on Friday. Regardless of development, fresh to strong NE to E winds and rough seas will prevail across the waters N of 26N through Thu night. High pres will build in the wake of the area of low pressure supporting gentle to moderate winds through early next week. $$ KRV