Prognostic Meteorological Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
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198 FXCA20 KWBC 181841 PMDCA Tropical Discussion - International Desks NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 141 PM EST Tue Nov 18 2025 Forecast Bulletin 18 November 2025 at 1840 UTC: The Bahamas and Caribbean: A low-level trough is expected to bring precipitation to the Leeward Islands and eastern Puerto Rico by advecting moisture and enhancing low-level moisture convergence. Another induced low-level trough will bring some instability to the Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. However limited moisture will keep the total accumulated rainfall below 15mm. Over western Cuba, light rainfall is expected due to a low-level trough to the southwest of Cuba. After Wednesday, a drying trend is expected over most of the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Mexico and Central America: An upper-level trough over southwestern U.S., reflected in mid- and low-levels will be enhancing instability over Baja California and portions of Sonora, as the trough propagates eastward from today through Thursday. From Wednesday through Thursday, a low-level trough will also enhance low-level moisture convergence over Coahuila and combined with the upper-level divergence should enhance precipitation in the area. Upper level divergence will continue over northern Mexico from Thursday through Friday as another upper-level trough approaches the western U.S. coast, and precipitation is expected to continue. Although precipitation is expected each day of the forecast period for those regions, the heaviest rainfall is expected from Wednesday through Thursday with a total precipitation around 30mm over Sonora and Coahuila. A slight risk of severe weather exists for Sonora. Over Central America conditions are expected to remain relatively stable, with dry air being present in the region and an upper-level high dominating the synoptic pattern. Light precipitation can be expected today over western Guatemala, as a low-level trough moves along the Pacific coast, and over Nicaragua as a low-level trough enhances low-level convergence bringing some moisture from the Caribbean. The totals, however, are expected to remain on the lower end, with maximum precipitation staying below 20mm. Further south in Central America, the monsoon trough will support rainfall over Costa Rica and Panama. There is some discrepancy, particularly after Wednesday, between the models in regards to where the maximum precipitation will happen. The GFS suggests that most of it will remain offshore, while the ECMWF brings the precipitation to the Caribbean coast of Panama. The difference is likely linked to the strength of the flow at low-levels and the precipitable water available in the region. Tropical South America: A plume of moisture associated with a low-level trough is expected to reach Guyana, eastern Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago today. Additional support from upper-levels is also expected with increasing upper-level diffluence, which will enhance the development of convective activity in the area. Totals reaching 40mm can be expected from today through Wednesday, with localized higher amounts. The plume of moisture will remain in the area causing some precipitation, but less convective activity is expected compared to the previous day. This is mostly because upper-level divergence is expected to remain offshore from Wednesday through Friday as an upper-level trough develops in the Atlantic extending into the Caribbean and propagates east, with its divergent side off the northeastern coast of South America. Heavy precipitation is expected each day of the forecast period over the western coast of Colombia, as low-level westerlies advect moisture from the Pacific Ocean towards the coast of Colombia. The rest of tropical South America can expect rainfall and thunderstorms due to diurnal heating, moisture advection, low-level convergence and local effects. Most of the precipitation, however, is expected to happen over the western portion of South America throughout the forecast period. An enhancement in upper-level divergence is expected from Thursday through Friday over western Colombia and portions of Ecuador, which could enhance the convective activity in the area. Positions of Tropical/Easterly Waves Initialized at 12 UTC TYP SOF INIT 19/00 19/12 20/00 20/12 21/00 21/12 22/00 -- -- -- --- --- For the latest available charts please visit: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/international/crb_day1-3.shtml Rivera-Torres...(WPC) $$