Special Features
The center of Tropical Depression Claudette, at 21/0300 UTC, is inland near 34.7N 80.4W. CLAUDETTE is moving toward the ENE, 70 degrees, 17 knots. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb. The maximum sustained wind speeds are 30 knots with gusts to 40 knots. CLAUDETTE is about 56 nm/100 km to the NE of Columbia in South Carolina, and about 130 nm/240 km to the WNW of Cape Fear in North Carolina. Precipitation: scattered strong is in the coastal plains and in the coastal waters of South Carolina, from 75 nm to 170 nm off the coast of North Carolina, and within 100 nm of the coast of Florida from 27N to 29N. CLAUDETTE is expected to regain tropical storm strength before reaching the coast. Please, refer to the latest watches and warnings that are issued by the National Hurricane Center, at www.hurricanes.gov, for more details.
Tropical Waves
A tropical wave is partially inland in Africa, along 15W, from 16N southward, moving W from 5 knots to 10 knots. Precipitation: widely scattered moderate to isolated strong is within 400 nm to the east of the tropical wave, and within 300 nm to the west of the tropical wave, from 02N to 15N.
An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave is along 32W/33W from 13N southward, moving W from 5 knots to 10 knots. Precipitation: isolated moderate is within 100 nm to the east of the tropical wave, and within 200 nm to the west of the tropical wave.
An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave is along 43W/44W from 14N southward, moving W 10 knots. Precipitation: widely scattered to scattered moderate and isolated to widely moderate strong is within 400 nm to the west of the tropical wave from 09N to 12N.
A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 69W, from 19N southward, moving W 10 knots. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong is within 300 nm to the east of the tropical wave, and within 330 nm to the west of the tropical wave. The tropical wave is moving toward the area of an upper level trough, that extends from SE Cuba to the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Monsoon Trough/ITCZ
The monsoon trough passes through the coastal areas of Sierra Leone near 09N13W, to 08N20W, 07N30W, and 07N39W. The ITCZ is along 06N/07N between 45W and 55W, at the coast Suriname. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong is from the monsoon trough southward between 20W and 40W, and from 10N southward from 50W westward.
Gulf Of Mexico
Broad upper level anticyclonic wind flow, with a ridge, covers the Gulf of Mexico.
An east-to-west oriented surface ridge is along 25N/26N in the Gulf of Mexico.
Precipitation: scattered strong is within 120 nm of the Texas coast between 93W and 96W. Broken to overcast multilayered clouds, and possibly remaining and dissipating rainshowers, are from 24N northward from 93W eastward. It is possible that the clouds and rainshowers may be related to precipitation that is around the periphery of T.D. Claudette.
A NW-to-SE oriented diurnal surface trough is inland in Mexico, passing through 22N100W, to the northern edge of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec of southern Mexico, to 19N90W. Precipitation: numerous strong is inland in Mexico from 20N to the surface trough between 99W and 101W, and in the easternmost part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec between Guatemala and 93W.
Tropical Depression Claudette should continue to move across parts of the southeastern U.S. Through tonight, and move over the coast of North Carolina into the western Atlantic Ocean on Monday. An area of fresh to strong S to SW winds is still noted in the north central Gulf of Mexico, in association with an outer band of Claudette. A ridge will dominate the Gulf of Mexico waters during the next several days. Pulsing fresh E to SE winds are expected each night into the early morning hours, to the NW of the Yucatan Peninsula, through Thursday night.
Caribbean Sea
An upper level trough extends from a SE Cuba upper level cyclonic circulation center, to the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong is from 18N northward between the Windward Passage and the Yucatan Channel. Isolated moderate also is from 18N southward from Jamaica westward.
The monsoon trough extends from 11N74W in Colombia, through 09N80W in Panama, beyond southern Costa Rica, into the eastern Pacific Ocean. Precipitation: isolated moderate to locally strong is from 15N southward to the monsoon trough, from 70W westward to Nicaragua. Numerous strong is in Colombia and in its coastal waters, within 325 nm to the south of the monsoon trough between 74W and 79W.
The Atlantic Ocean high pressure will combine with the lower pressure in Colombia, in order to support fresh to strong trades in the south central Caribbean Sea through Tuesday. Pulsing fresh to strong E to SE winds are expected in the Gulf of Honduras at night through Wednesday night. An eastern Caribbean Sea tropical wave that is along 69W, will move across the central Caribbean Sea on Monday.
Atlantic Ocean
A surface trough is along 30N36W 22N34W. A 1021 mb low pressure center was near 26N34W at 20/1800 UTC. Precipitation: isolated moderate is within 300 nm to the west of the surface trough from 22N to 28N.
A surface ridge passes through 31N42W, to a 1025 mb high pressure center that is near 30N48W, to 28N63W, 28N72W, beyond south Florida and the Straits of Florida, toward the central Gulf of Mexico.
A dissipating cold front is along 31N/32N between 13W and 25W. Precipitation: any clouds and precipitation are to the north of the frontal boundary.
The sea heights range from 6 feet to 8 feet from 12N to 22N within 250 nm of the coast of Africa, and from 09N to 22N between 53W and 60W. Fresh-to-strong NE winds are in these areas.
A ridge will dominate the area during the next several days. Fresh to strong S to SW winds are expected to develop in the waters N of 30N tonight and Monday, due to the pressure gradient between Claudette, that is forecast to move into the western Atlantic Ocean on Monday, and the Atlantic Ocean high pressure. Fresh to locally strong winds are expected to pulse at night in the Hispaniola adjacent waters, including in the approaches to the Windward Passage through Friday.
Posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago by NHC Forecaster Mt/Era
