000 AXNT20 KNHC 180610 TWDAT  Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0605 UTC Mon Mar 18 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  0500 UTC.  ...SPECIAL FEATURES...  Western Atlantic Gale Warning:  A cold front currently near the Georgia-Florida border and off the Carolinas coast will progress eastward across the western Atlantic for the next few days. SW to NW winds near and behind this front are expected to reach near-gale to gale-force north of 29N between 73W and 77W by late Mon night or early Tue morning. Seas in this area will range from 9 to 12 ft. These near-gale to gale-force  winds and very rough seas will shift eastward with the cold front  to north of 29N between 63W and 67W by noon Tue. As this front  weakens Tue afternoon and evening, both winds and seas should  gradually subside.  Mariners need to monitor these hazardous marine conditions, and  plan their routes accordingly. Please read the latest High Seas  and Offshore Waters Forecasts issued by the National Hurricane  Center, at the websites: https//www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml, and www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php, for more details.  ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...  A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic along the Sierra Leone coast near Freetown, then runs southwestward to near 04N19W. An ITCZ  continues from 04N19W across 00S29W to 01S45W. Scattered moderate convection is noted near and south of the trough from 01N to 04N  between 10W and 18W. Similar convection is occurring near and  north of the ITCZ from the Equator to 03N between 24W and 47W.  ...GULF OF MEXICO...  A cold front extends southwestward from the Florida Big Bend area to just south of New Orleans, then continues as a stationary front to a 1009 mb low south of Matamoros, Mexico. A surface trough is noted south of this boundary near 27N87W. These features are causing scattered showers and thunderstorms across the northern Gulf. Haze and smoke from agricultural fires in Mexico is reducing visibility down to 4 nm across the west-central and southwestern  Gulf. Otherwise, a surface ridge extends southwestward from  central Florida to south of Tampico, Mexico. Moderate to fresh NE  to SE winds and seas at 3 to 5 ft are present at the northwestern  and south- central Gulf, including the eastern Bay of Campeche.  Gentle to moderate NE to SE to S winds and 1 to 3 ft seas prevail  for the rest of the Gulf.  For the forecast, the aforementioned frontal boundary will become a cold front completely, and reach from near Tampa Bay, Florida  to near Veracruz, Mexico Mon morning before exiting the basin on  Tue morning. Fresh to strong winds and rough seas are expected  behind the front tonight through Tue morning. Low pressure may  form over the western Gulf on Thu, then tack east-northeast  toward the northeastern Gulf by Fri, dragging a cold front across the basin. Expect increasing winds and seas with this next  frontal system along with possible numerous showers and  thunderstorms.  ...CARIBBEAN SEA...  A trade-wind regime continues across the entire Caribbean Sea. Fresh to strong ENE to E winds and seas at 6 to 10 ft are present at the south-central and southeastern basin. Fresh with locally strong ESE winds and seas of 4 to 6 ft are seen at the Gulf of Honduras. Light to gentle winds and 2 to 4 ft seas are noted near the Cayman Islands. Moderate to fresh ENE to ESE winds with seas at 4 to 7 ft prevail elsewhere in the Caribbean Basin.  For the forecast, the subtropical ridge north of the area near  26N will support fresh to strong trade winds across the eastern  and central Caribbean through Tue. Afterward, winds will diminish  to between moderate and fresh as a cold front moves across the  western Atlantic. This front will push southward across the  northwestern basin Tue, then reach eastern Cuba on Wed while  dissipating. Pulsing fresh to strong winds will prevail near the  coast of Colombia through Fri night.   ...ATLANTIC OCEAN...  Please read the Special Features section at the beginning about an upcoming Gale Warning.  Two surface troughs are triggering scattered showers from 20N to  25N between 52W and 56W, and from 21N to 26N between 36W and 41W.  Otherwise, the subtropical ridge associated with a 1026 mb high  near 31N31W dominates the Atlantic north of 20N. Refer to the  Monsoon Trough/ITCZ section for additional weather in the  Atlantic Basin. Moderate to fresh SW winds and seas at 4 to 6 ft  are evident south of a cold front off the Carolinas, north of 27N  between 70W and the Georgia-northeast Florida coast. Fresh with  locally strong SE winds and 4 to 6 ft seas are found near the  southeast Bahamas. Otherwise, light to gentle winds and seas of 4  to 7 ft in moderate northerly swell exist north of 20N between 30W and the Florida east coast. Moderate to fresh with locally strong NNE to NE winds and seas at 6 to 8 ft dominate near the Canary  Islands north of 21N between the northwest Africa coast and 30W,  and also near the Cabo Verde Islands from 12N to 21N between the  central Africa coast and 35W. For the tropical Atlantic from 04N  to 20N between 35W and the Lesser Antilles, moderate with locally  fresh ENE to E winds and 5 to 8 ft seas are noted. Light to gentle monsoonal winds and seas at 4 to 6 ft in mixed moderate swell  prevail for the remainder of the Atlantic Basin.  For the forecast W of 55W, a cold front will move off the  southeast U.S. coast tonight, reach from near 31N78W to northeast  Florida early on Mon. Then from near 31N70W to the Straits of  Florida Tue morning, from near Bermuda through the central Bahamas by Tue afternoon, while weakening as it reaches from near 31N56W  to eastern Cuba by Wed morning. Fresh to strong winds and rough  seas are expected ahead and behind the front. The front will move east of the area on Thu. High pressure in its wake will quickly  shift eastward through Fri night, allowing for fresh to strong  southerly winds to develop over the western half of the forecast  waters as low pressure tracks northeastward along a coastal front  near northeast Florida.  $$  Chan