Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion
550 AXNT20 KNHC 142323 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0015 UTC Thu Oct 15 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 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 2300 UTC. ...TROPICAL WAVES... An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is analyzed along 45W from 10N to 18N, moving westward near 10 kt. No significant convection is noted near the wave. An Atlantic tropical wave is along a position 57W, S of 20N, moving westward at 10 to 15 kt. Scattered showers are within 150 nm east of the wave from 10N to 12N. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The monsoon trough axis enters the Atlantic near 11N15W and extends to 06.5N22W, where it transitions to the ITCZ and continues on to 04.5N35W to near 08N56W. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection is from 02.5N to 09.5N between 21W and 41W. ...GULF OF AMERICA... A high pressure ridge extends from a 1020 mb high center that is over the southeastern U.S. southwestward to the western Gulf, while an old frontal boundary extends from the Straits of Florida to just N of the Yucatan Channel, where a few clusters of showers are present. Recent satellite scatterometer data along with buoy observations reveal mostly moderate east winds south of 28N and east of 91W, and moderate to fresh east to southeast winds west of 91W. Light to gentle winds east to southeast winds are elsewhere. Seas are in the range of 3 to 5 ft, except for slightly lower seas of 1 to 3 ft over the northern Gulf. For the forecast, high pressure will dominate the Gulf region through Fri producing a gentle to moderate anticyclonic flow and slight to moderate seas. A cold front is forecast to enter the northwest Gulf late Fri, and reach from southwest Florida to the central Bay of Campeche by late Sat. Fresh to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will follow the front, with gales possible over the west-central Gulf by early Sat morning, and over the SW Gulf by Sat afternoon. Rough to very rough seas are expected with the strongest winds. Gale conditions are forecast to persist over the SW Gulf trough Sun. ...CARIBBEAN SEA... A mid-level low located south-southwest over the NW Caribbean and Yucatan Channel continues to sustain scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the waters from Cuba southward to the Gulf of Honduras, while a mid to upper- level low over the central Caribbean continues to support scattered showers and thunderstorms over Hispaniola and the central Caribbean waters between 69 W and 79W. Latest satellite scatterometer data reveals a wide swath of fresh to strong east to southeast winds over the waters southwest of Haiti roughly from 14N to 18N between 72W and 77W. A weak low of 1010 mb is analyzed in the southwestern Caribbean near 12.5N80W. A trough extends from the low northward to just southwest of Jamaica. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are seen from 11N to 17N between 75W and 79W. Moderate to fresh trade winds prevail across central and west-central portions of the basin between 69W and 81W, to the north and northeast of the western Caribbean low pressure. Seas are 4 to 6 ft in this region. Elsewhere moderate or weaker trades and seas of 2 to 4 ft prevail. For the forecast, high pressure N of area will combine with the Colombian low to support moderate to fresh trade winds offshore Colombia and in the Gulf of Venezuela through the upcoming weekend, with locally rough seas offshore Colombia. Moderate or weaker winds and slight to moderate seas will prevail elsewhere. Moisture associated with an uper-level trough over the central Caribbean will reach the NW Caribbean on Thu, keeping the chances of showers and thunderstorms across the basin. Gusty winds and locally rough seas will be associated with this convective activity. ...ATLANTIC OCEAN... Surface ridging anchored by a 1020 mb in northern Alabama reaches southward and southeastern to across the waters just north of the Bahamas and to 65W. A trough, an old frontal boundary, extends from 31N61W, to 28N70W, to the central Bahamas and to the Straits of Florida. Scattered showers are within 90 nm west of 65W. To the east, a 1015 mb low is centered near 25N67W, with a trough extending northeastward to 31N58W. An area of scattered moderate convection is evident within 75 nm of the low. This activity is ahead of an upper shortwave trough that is approaching from the NW. Over the eastern Atlantic, a weak 1012 mb low is near 21N36W as detected in recent satellite scatterometer satellite data. A trough extends from the low north-northwestward to 28N40W. A small mid to upper-level low moving west-southwestward is seen in water vapor imagery near 25N41W while a larger upper-level low moving westward is seen near 19N51W. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are noted from 22N to 27N between 30W and the trough. A tight gradient between the trough and high pressure to its north has resulted in an area of fresh to strong east to southeast winds that covers the water roughly from 20N to 27N between 29W and 36W. Seas are in the range of 8 to 11 ft within this area of winds. The remainder subtropical central and eastern Atlantic is under the influence of the Azores High, which is generally supporting moderate to fresh northeast winds and moderate seas to 7 ft between the coast of NW Africa and 24W, including the waters adjacent to the Canary Islands. Moderate or weaker winds along with slight to moderate seas are elsewhere north of 20N and west of 24W. For the forecast west of 55W, a band of showers and a few thunderstorms, associated with an old frontal boundary, extends from 28N68W across the NW Bahamas and SE Florida into the Straits of Florida. Moisture and associated weather with this feature will move northward through at least Thu. A cold front will reach the NE waters on Fri with little change in winds and seas. A stronger cold front will move into the waters off northeast Florida by late Fri night into early Sat morning, and reach from near Bermuda to South Florida by late Sat. Strong to near-gale force winds and rough seas will follow the front.