Go to the WJXT homepage

Special Features

Western and Central Atlantic Large, Long-period Swell: A strong cold front curves southwestward from the north-central Atlantic across 31N56W to near 25N73W, then continues westward as a stationary front to beyond the central Bahamas. Large, long- period northerly swell is generating 12 to 16 ft seas across the western Atlantic up to 285 nm northwest of the cold front. These very rough seas are going peak at 12 to 18 ft while shifting southeastward following the cold front, reaching from 31N45W to near the Turks and Caicos Islands late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Afterward, a weakening cold front along with declining northerly swells should allow both winds and seas to gradually subside through Wed, possible dropping below 12 ft on Thu.

Please refer to the latest NWS High Seas and Offshore Waters Forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center, at the following websites: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml and https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php for more details.

East Atlantic Gale Warning: Meteo-France has issued a Gale Warning for the marine zone of Agadir near the coast of Morocco through 30/18 UTC. Please refer to the Meteo-France High Seas Forecast listed on the website https://wwmiws.wmo.int

Monsoon Trough/ITCZ

A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic near the coastal border of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, then reaches southwestward to near 09N19W. Farther south, an ITCZ extends southwestward from 02N15W across 00N28W to near Fortaleza, Brazil. Widely scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted south of the monsoon trough and near the ITCZ from 00N to 04N between 10W and 30W. Scattered moderate to strong convective is present up to 180 nm along either side of the rest of the ITCZ.

Gulf Of America

A weakening stationary front extends westward from just east of the central Bahamas across the Great Bahama Bank to the Florida Straits near 24N86W. Patchy showers are occurring up to 120 nm north of the front. A surface trough is causing widely scattered showers south of New Orleans. Moderate to fresh with locally strong E to SE winds and seas of 4 to 7 ft dominate the eastern Gulf, including the Florida Straits. Gentle to moderate NE to SE winds and seas at 3 to 5 ft prevail for the western Gulf, including the Bay of Campeche.

For the forecast, the stationary front should dissipate late tonight into early Mon morning. High pressure will build in the wake of the front, supporting moderate to fresh E to SE winds, and moderate seas over the eastern Gulf through Fri night. Over the western Gulf, moderate to locally fresh SE winds are forecast.

Caribbean Sea

Convergent trades are triggering scattered showers in the Gulf of Honduras, and isolated thunderstorms near southern Haiti. Tight pressure gradient between the Atlantic Ridge along 24N and a 1009 mb Colombian Low is supporting fresh to strong NE trades along with 5 to 7 ft seas in the lee of Cuba, the Windward Passage and near Hispaniola. Strong to near-gale NE winds and seas of 6 to 8 ft are evident at the south-central basin. Gentle to moderate ENE winds and 3 to 5 ft seas are noted at the eastern basin. Moderate to fresh NE to ENE winds and seas of 4 to 6 ft prevail for the rest of the basin.

For the forecast, fresh to strong winds and rough seas will linger offshore Colombia through midweek, pulsing to near gale force at night. Fresh winds will then pulse to strong at night through Fri night. This pressure gradient will also support fresh to strong NE winds in the lee side of Cuba, the Windward Passage, and south of Hispaniola through Thu.

Atlantic Ocean

Refer to the Special Features section at the very beginning about Large Swell and Very Rough Seas.

A strong cold front curves southwestward from the north-central Atlantic across 31N56W to near 25N73W, then continues westward as a stationary front to beyond the central Bahamas. Scattered showers are occurring near and up to 100 nm northwest of this boundary. To the east, a surface trough runs southward from 30N53W through a 1016 mb low near 28N55W to 19N58W. Scattered showers are found north of 22N between 45W and 55W.

Besides the very rough seas mentioned in the Special Features section, fresh to near-gale NE to E winds and seas of 8 to 11 ft are seen behind the cold/stationary front. Moderate to fresh NE winds and seas at 5 to 7 ft are seen from 20N to the cold/stationary front and west of 57W. For the rest of the Atlantic north of 00N between 35W and 57N/cold front, gentle to moderate NE to SE winds and 5 to 7 ft seas prevail.

For the forecast west of 55W, the above mentioned cold front will stall across the central Bahamas. The front will reach from 31N50W to Hispaniola by Mon morning before dissipating over the southeastern waters on Tue. Strong to near-gale force N to NE winds, and rough to very rough seas are expected behind the front. Strong high pressure will build in the wake of the front, which will support the continuation of fresh to strong NE to E winds, and rough to very rough seas across most of the offshore forecast waters through the end of the week.

Posted 4 hours ago by NHC Forecaster Chan