****0000004815**** AXNT20 KNHC 152242 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0015 UTC Thu Jan 16 2025 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 2230 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Atlantic Significant Swell Event: Another round of significant NW swell is already entering the western Atlantic mainly N of 30N between 60W and 70W in the vicinity of a cold front currently N of the area. Fresh to strong NW winds are occurring behind the front. The swell will continue to impact the waters N of 27N between 55W and 75W this evening, with waves of 12-14 ft, then spread eastward to affect waters N of 26N between 50W and 70W Thursday through early Friday, with wave heights of 12-18 ft. Seas will then subside on Friday. Please refer to the latest High Seas Forecast issued by the National Hurricane Center at the website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the Atlantic waters near 10N14W and extends southwestward to 02N18W. The ITCZ extends from 02N18W to 02S44W. Scattered moderate convection is noted along and within 300 nm of the ITCZ. ...GULF OF MEXICO... A surface trough is over the western Gulf along 95W, with ridging extending across the remainder of the central and eastern Gulf. Fresh to strong E winds prevail across the NW Gulf waters N of 22N and W of 90W. Moderate to fresh NE winds are elsewhere E of the surface trough. Seas are in the 5-8 ft range across the basin. For the forecast, the surface trough will linger over the western part of the basin into Thu night. Fresh to strong N winds will prevail N and W of the trough into Thu evening, with moderate to fresh SE winds E of the trough to 87W tonight. Fresh to locally strong winds will dominate the basin by the end of the week, ahead of a cold front forecast to reach from SW Louisiana to lower Texas early Sat, then from near Tampa Bay, Florida to the SW Gulf early Sun, pushing SE of the basin Sun night. Fresh to strong N winds and building seas may follow the front into next week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Fresh to strong NE to E winds prevail over the central and SW Caribbean, as well as in the lee of Cuba, and through the northern Caribbean Passages. Moderate to fresh trades are noted elsewhere. Seas are in the 8-9 ft range over the central and SW Caribbean, and 4-7 ft over the north central and eastern Caribbean. Over the NW Caribbean, seas of 3-5 ft are noted. For the forecast, high pressure building across the western Atlantic will maintain moderate to fresh trade winds over the central Caribbean, with strong winds pulsing off Colombia, Hispaniola, and eastern Cuba at times through at least Fri night. High pressure in the wake of a stalling and dissipating front mainly north of the area will build across the entire basin early next week with fresh to locally strong winds. Long-period northerly swells will impact Atlantic passages through the end of the week. Fresh to strong trades may develop in the Tropical N Atlantic this weekend into early next week, gradually building seas. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... Please refer to the SPECIAL FEATURES section above for details on the significant swell in the Atlantic. A cold front extends from 31N54W to the southern Bahamas. Fresh to strong NW winds are occurring along and behind the front, while moderate to fresh are noted E of the front. To the E, an area of fresh NE winds prevails near the Canary Islands. Seas are in the 8-12 ft range N of 07N between 19W and 55W. Elsewhere, seas of 4-7 ft prevail. For the forecast W of 55W, the cold front will stall and weaken over the far SE waters by Thu night. Fresh to strong winds mainly behind the front will impact the waters north of 29N. Large, long- period NW to N swell north of 27N and east of 75W associated with the front will shift to the east of 55W by Fri night. Another cold front will move across the basin Thu night into early Sat, with new large swell mainly north of 27N, along with fresh to strong winds. Another front may impact the waters off northern Florida this weekend with increasing winds and seas on either side of it. The front should stall and weaken over the central waters early next week. $$ ERA