Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion
386 AXNT20 KNHC 241957 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1815 UTC Thu Sep 24 2026 Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of America, 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 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1800 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... Tropical Storm Fay is centered near 29.8N 41.2W at 24/1500 UTC or 860 nm WSW of the Azores, moving W at 5 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 45 kt with gusts to 55 kt. Peak seas to 12 ft are occurring within 75 nm across the NW semicircle. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is noted within 130 nm over the NE and NW and 70 nm SW quadrants. Some additional strengthening is possible through tonight. A gradual weakening trend is expected to commence on Friday. A generally westward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days. Please read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National Hurricane Center at website - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml and the latest Fay NHC Forecast/Advisory and Public Advisory at www.hurricanes.gov for more details. Far Eastern Tropical Atlantic (AL90): An elongated area of low pressure located a few hundred miles south-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system could become a short-lived tropical depression or tropical storm later today or on Friday while it moves northwestward to northward. Increasing upper-level winds, however, should prevent further development over the weekend. Interests in the Cabo Verde Islands should monitor the progress of this system as gusty winds, areas of heavy rain, and flash flooding are possible over the islands by Friday. Heavy rain and flash flooding could also occur well to the east along the coast of western Africa, particularly in western portions of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and southwest portions of Mauritania. This system has a high chance of formation in the next 48 hours. Heavy Rainfall in Central America: A mid to upper-level trough currently extends from the eastern Gulf of America across the Yucatan Peninsula and NW Caribbean, while relatively warm sea surface temperatures and abundant low level moisture are present. An elongated low level trough will prevail across this area during the next several days, and aid in funneling enhanced tropical moisture across Central America and the western Caribbean, supporting periods of heavy rainfall through Sat the 26th. There is still some uncertainty regarding the exact location of heaviest rainfall, but for now heavy rainfall looks likely across extreme southeastern Mexico near Chiapas, southern and central Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, southern and eastern Belize, as well as across portions of Costa Rica and Panama. Currently, numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms extends from the Gulf of Honduras, north- northeastward across the Cayman Islands and into the southern coastal waters of Cuba, and across Andros Island and the remainder of the NW Bahamas W of 73W. Heavy rainfall across these regions will create the possibility of life- threatening flash flooding and landslides. Please refer to local weather services as well as the International Desk at the Weather Prediction Center for more information. ...TROPICAL WAVES... See Special Features section above for information on a tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic along 20N that has potential for tropical formation. A central Atlantic tropical wave is analyzed along 46W, S of 14.5W, moving west at around 10 kt. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 10N to 13N between the wave axis and 51W. An eastern Caribbean tropical wave is along 66W, south of 14N into southern Venezuela, moving westward at 10 to 15 kt. No significant convection is depicted over waters in association with this wave. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough enters the E Atlantic near 16N17W and extends southward to 1007 low pressure near 12.3N21.1W then continues westward to 10.5N49W. The ITCZ extends from 10.5N49W and continues to to near 10N59.5W. Scattered showers prevail from 04.5N to 09N between 27.5W and 36W. Scattered moderate convection is depicted from 09N to 13N west of 59W. ...GULF OF AMERICA... A frontal boundary extends from south Florida to NE Texas. Moderate to locally fresh NE winds along with seas 2 to 4 ft prevail in the wake of the front. Elsewhere, weak high pressure prevails ahead of the front supporting light to gentle NE to E winds along with seas 1 to 3 ft. For the forecast, the aforementioned front is forecast to progress across the E Gulf tonight and Fri, then stall over the SE Gulf this weekend. Moderate to locally fresh winds will follow the front through Fri night. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds will prevail through Sat night. Winds will diminish slightly Sun into early next week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... Please see Special Features section above for information on upper-level low pressure across the far western Caribbean, and expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall over portions of Central America into the weekend. To the east, an upper level trough extends from the central Atlantic southwestward to northern Venezuela. This trough is supporting scattered moderate convection south of 13N and east of 65W. At the surface, high pressure across the central Atlantic extends a weak ridge north of the area, producing a weak pressure gradient across the Caribbean basin. Moderate to fresh trades prevail across most of the basin S of 15N and E of 80W. Seas in these winds are 4 to 7 ft. Over the eastern Caribbean moderate winds prevail along and 3 to 5 ft in the moderate winds. Elsewhere, outside of convection, light to gentle winds and slight seas prevail. For the forecast, the weak pressure gradient will generate moderate to fresh trades over the S central Caribbean, and gentle to moderate winds elsewhere. An upper-level trough will support scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms over the W Caribbean for the next couple of days. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... See Special Features section above for information on Tropical Storm Fay. A deep-layered upper trough extending from the middle Atlantic states of the U.S. S-SW across the eastern Gulf of America continues to support scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms from the NW Caribbean across the NW and central Bahamas and adjacent Atlantic waters. Abundant low-level tropical moisture is across much of the Atlantic W of 68W, trapped to the south of an approaching front offshore of the SE U.S. and is interacting with the upper trough. A surface trough is analyzed within this convection across the NW Bahamas through the Straits of Florida. A weak frontal boundary extends from 31N75W to South Florida. Moderate to fresh winds prevail behind the front, except for strong winds offshore NE Florida along with seas to 9 ft. Ahead of the front, north of 28N and between 71W and 73W moderate S to SW winds prevail. Another upper-level low is drifting westward near 25N53W. This feature is interacting with a surface trough resulting in an area of scattered moderate convection from 21N to 28N between 50W and 56W. Outside of this convection, a weak pressure gradient continues across much of the Atlantic, as high pressure remains centered across the far NE Atlantic offshore of Europe. This pattern is sustaining gentle to moderate trades S of 20N and variable light to gentle winds elsewhere W of 35W. However, swell generated from Tropical Storm Fay is producing seas of 6 to 11 ft N of 28N between 38W and 45W. For the forecast west of 55W, the aforementioned frontal boundary will shift eastward, reaching from near Bermuda to the Straits of Florida Sat night before starting to weaken. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected along the frontal boundary. Fresh to strong winds and increasing seas will follow the front through Fri, before decreasing on Sat.