• Atlantic Swell Event

    From Mike Powell@1:2320/105 to All on Tue Feb 3 08:45:23 2026
    752
    AXNT20 KNHC 031054
    TWDAT

    Tropical Weather Discussion
    NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
    1215 UTC Tue Feb 3 2026

    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 0600 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0940 UTC.

    ...SPECIAL FEATURES...

    Atlantic Significant Swell Event:
    A cold front reaches southwestward from the north-central Atlantic
    near 31N48W to just NE of the offshore waters of Puerto Rico near
    20N65W where it stalls and continues SW to NW Colombia. Large NW
    swell behind this front is producing 12 to 16 ft seas across the
    western and central Atlantic, between 42W and 71W. The cold front
    will move east-northeasward across the central and eastern
    Atlantic and move inland NW Africa Thu evening. Large long-period
    NW swell in the wake of the front will continue to produce 12 to
    15 ft seas, affecting the eastern subtropical Atlantic waters
    through Sat. Please read the latest High Seas and Offshore Waters
    Forecasts at websites:
    https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtm
    and https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php for more information.

    ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

    A monsoon trough enters the Atlantic along the Guinea coast near
    10N13W, then extends southwestward to 05N17W. The ITCZ continues west-southwestward from 05N17W to 02N28W to 01N41W. Numerous
    moderate to isolated strong convection is seen from 00N to 07N
    between 04W and 27W.

    ...GULF OF MEXICO...

    A surface ridge extending southwestward from a 1029 mb high to
    near Tampico, Mexico is dominating the entire Gulf. The gradient
    of pressure between the ridge and lower pressure over N Texas and
    central United States is supporting fresh to strong SE to S winds
    over the far western Gulf, and moderate to fresh NE to E winds
    over the SE Gulf and eastern Bay of Campeche.

    For the forecast, fresh to strong winds in the far western basin
    will persist through late today. The next cold front will enter
    the NW Gulf by early Wed morning, then sweep southward across the
    Gulf region through Thu evening. Fresh to strong northerly winds
    and rough seas will follow the front. Winds and seas will begin to
    diminish across the Gulf area Thu night into Fri. High pressure
    will build in the wake of the front Sat.

    ...CARIBBEAN SEA...

    A stationary front extends from La Mona Passage to northern
    Colombia where it is helping to induce scattered showers. Fresh to
    near gale-force NNE winds and rough seas are noted in the wake of
    the front, affecting both La Mona Passage and the Windward
    Passage. Moderate to fresh NE winds are ongoing in the NW
    Caribbean with rough seas between Jamaica and E Honduras. In the
    SE Caribbean, trades are gentle to moderate and seas to 6 ft.

    For the forecast, the front is forecast to dissipate late tonight
    into Wed. Fresh to strong winds will persist in the central
    Caribbean through Wed, with winds gradually veering to the E as
    high pressure settles N of the area. An area of moisture
    associated with this frontal boundary will remain and move
    westward across the central Caribbean today, reaching the coast of
    Nicaragua on Wed. Looking ahead, another cold front is expected
    to reach the NW Caribbean late on Thu, bringing fresh to near
    gale-force N winds and building seas. The front will move quickly
    across the basin, reaching from eastern Cuba to the Gulf of
    Honduras Thu night into Fri while weakening. Winds and seas in the
    central Caribbean will improve Sat.

    ...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

    Please see the Special Features section for details on the
    significant swell event.

    A cold front extends from 31N48W to 20N65W where it becomes
    stationary and continues SW across the Mona Passage to NW Colombia.
    Fresh to strong winds are on either side of the front N of 25N.
    Very rough seas to 16 ft, in long period NW swell, are found in
    the wake of the front. Rough seas are also ahead of the front. The
    remainder basin is under the influence of surface ridging and
    devoid of convection. Over the tropical waters, winds are moderate
    to fresh from the NE to E and seas are moderate to rough.

    For the forecast west of 55W, the north part of the front will
    continue to move eastward while the southern part of it will
    remain nearly stationary in the vicinity of Puerto Rico and the
    northern Leeward Islands through early Wed, then the front will
    begin to lift N late on Wed ahead of the next cold front forecast
    to move off NE Florida on Thu. Another round of fresh to near
    gale-force winds and building seas is expected with the next cold
    front, which is forecast to extend from Bermuda to the Dominican
    Republic by Fri morning and move E of the area on Sun.

    $$
    Ramos
    --- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
    * Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)