The monsoon trough reaches the Atlantic through the coast of Africa near 15N16W and continues to 14N20W to 08N26W. The ITCZ extends from 08N26W to 05N44W to 07N58W. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is noted from 05N to 13N between 16W and 38W.

A broad ridge over the eastern CONUS and the NW Atlantic extends a ridge across the Gulf. The pressure gradient tightens over the eastern half of the Gulf due to the presence of a stationary front N of the Bahamas. This is resulting in moderate to fresh NE winds E of 90W along with moderate to rough seas.

For the forecast, a tight pressure gradient between a high pressure system over New England and a stationary front over the offshores NE of the Bahamas will continue to support fresh to locally strong NE to E winds and rough seas in the E Gulf into Mon night. Winds and seas will gradually diminish into Sat as the ridge slides eastward. Looking ahead, another robust high pressure system will reach New England late this weekend and early next week allowing winds and seas to increase in the NE Gulf. Elsewhere, gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas will prevail into early next week. Otherwise, expect fresh SE to S winds over much of the Gulf by Mon between high pressure over the western Atlantic and a cold front moving through the Southern Plains.

The passage of a stationary front over the SW N Atlantic waters is supporting a weak gradient over the Caribbean waters W of 76W, thus leading to light to gentle winds and slight seas. Moderate to fresh trades and moderate seas are elsewhere.

For the forecast, moderate to locally fresh trade winds will continue south of 15N through the eastern, central and portions of the SW Caribbean through Sun night. Moderate or weaker winds are forecast elsewhere and through the remainder forecast period.

Please see the Special Features section above for information on a Gale warning north of the Bahamas.

A tight pressure gradient between a high pressure system over New England and a stationary front extending across the offshore zones N of 27N, across the northern Bahamas to a 1012 mb low in the Florida Straits supports strong to gale-force NE winds and rough seas north of the front. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are occurring across the offshores between 55W and 77W. The aforementioned stationary front connects to a cold front near 28N49W and extends NE to 31N31W. Scattered showers and tstms are N of 25N and ahead of the front to 25W. Moderate to fresh winds are ahead and behind the front with seas to 7 ft. Otherwise, moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas are elsewhere.

For the forecast west of 55W, the gales will end later this morning, however fresh to strong NE winds will prevail through late Fri as the low in the Straits tracks northeastward N of the area dragging a cold front forecast to extend from Bermuda to the central Bahamas by Fri morning, and moving east of 55W by Sun morning. Expect fresh to strong NE-E winds and rough seas N of the front through early next week.

Ramos