, SPECIAL FEATURES.. A cold front extends from Louisiana to northern Mexico. Fresh to near gale force winds, with frequent gusts to gale force within 60 nm of the coast, follow the front over the NW Gulf. Building seas are in the 4-6 ft range over these waters. The gale force wind gusts will continue through early this afternoon.

Monsoon Trough/ITCZ

The monsoon trough is analyzed from 13N17W to 02N20W. The ITCZ continues from 02N20W to 02S43W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 01N to 04N between 16W and 20W. Scattered moderate and isolated strong convection is noted within 180 nm of the ITCZ between 30W and 43W.

Gulf Of America

A cold front extends from Louisiana to northern Mexico. Associated winds west of the front are described in the SPECIAL FEATURES section above. A 1017 mb high is centered over the NE Gulf near 27.5N86.5W. Light to gentle winds, and seas of 1-2 ft, are in the vicinity of the high center. A surface trough is over the SW Gulf. The pressure gradient between the high center and this trough is supporting moderate to fresh winds in the vicinity of the trough, where seas are in the 4-5 ft range. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds, and seas of 2-4 ft, prevail.

For the forecast, fresh to strong N to NE winds and building seas will follow the cold front as it moves across the northern Gulf through the early part of the week. The front will stall from the Florida Straits to south Texas by late Mon then dissipate into mid week. Fresh SE winds will return to the northwest Gulf by late Thu.

Caribbean Sea

Gentle to moderate winds prevail across the Caribbean waters, locally fresh off the coast of Colombia in the south central Caribbean. Seas are in the 4-5 ft range east of 75W, and 2-4 ft west of 75W.

For the forecast, a weaker than usual pressure gradient will support mainly gentle to moderate winds through the forecast period. Fresh NE winds may develop early this week across the Windward Passage associated with a late- season cold front moving into Cuba.

Atlantic Ocean

A surface trough extends from the NW Bahamas to western Cuba. High pressure dominates the remainder of the Atlantic discussion waters, anchored by a 1023 mb high centered near 32N48W. Light to gentle winds are noted over the waters N of 28N in the vicinity of the high center. Gentle to moderate winds prevail over the remainder of the waters. Seas are in the 4-7 ft range across most of the discussion waters, except 3-4 ft off the coast of Florida.

For the forecast west of 55W, a cold front will move off the northeast Florida coast today. Fresh to strong N to NE winds and rough seas will follow the front as it reaches a position from Bermuda to Florida Straits by late Mon, and from 31N60W to central Cuba by late Tue. Winds will diminish through mid week as the front stalls and dissipates along 22N. High pressure will build between northeast Florida and Bermuda in the wake of the front. Large N swell may linger near the dissipating front Wed into Thu.

Posted 0 minutes ago by NHC Forecaster Al