Tropical Weather

Galveston is no stranger to tropical weather. During hurricane season, from June 1st through November 30th, Galvestonians keep a close eye on the Gulf, and to trusted weather sources. This is also the height of the tourism season for the island. We’ve compiled tropical weather data below to help you plan your travels.

National Hurricane Center Tropical Weather Discussion

Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1215 UTC Sun Dec 15 2024

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 1040 UTC.

...SPECIAL FEATURES...

Western Atlantic Gale Warning: The pressure gradient between a 1045 mb high pressure over the NE United States and a 1009 mb low pressure with a sharp trough over and north of Hispaniola continues to support NE near-gale to gale-force winds north of 25N between 65W and 75W. Seas in this general area are peaking at 20 ft. These conditions are forecast to continue through later this morning. As the low and related trough weaken this afternoon and tonight, winds and seas will gradually subside through mid- week as the pressure gradient decreases.

Eastern Atlantic Gale Warning: A pair of low pressure centers WNW of the Canary Islands are generating northerly near-gale to gale- force winds north of 27N between 20W and 35W. Seas under these winds are peaking at 21 ft. The low pressures are forecast to merge and then move NNE through tonight. This should allow marine conditions to gradually improve starting late this afternoon. In addition, Meteo-France has also issued GALE WARNINGS for the CANARAIS, IRVING, METEOR, and MADEIRA Marine Zones due to the same oceanic lows. Please refer to the Meteo- France High Seas Warning/Forecast at website: https://wwmiws.wmo.int/index.php/metareas/affiche/2 for more details.

For both Gale Warnings, please read the latest High Seas and Offshore Waters Forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center at website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFAT2.shtml and www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/offshores.php for more information.

...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ...

The monsoon trough stays mostly over the Africa Continent. The ITCZ extends westward from 08N14W to 04N35W, then turns northwestward to 09N55W. Scattered moderate convection is noted from 02N to 07N between 15W and 41W.

...GULF OF MEXICO...

A broad surface ridge runs southwestward from the Florida Panhandle to a 1022 mb high near Tampico, Mexico. Fresh to strong ENE winds and seas at 6 to 8 ft are present across the Florida Straits. Moderate to fresh E to SE winds and moderate seas are present across the remainder Gulf.

For the forecast, a strong ridge over the eastern United States will continue to support fresh to strong NE to E winds and moderate to rough seas over the eastern Gulf, including the Straits of Florida, through early Mon. Then, gentle to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas are expected Mon and Tue. Looking ahead, a weak cold front will reach the NW Gulf of Mexico by Wed night and dissipate along the northern Gulf coast by early Thu.

...CARIBBEAN SEA...

A broad 1009 mb low just N of Hispaniola and related surface trough are causing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the Hispaniola adjacent waters, including the Windward Passage. Fresh to strong NE winds and seas to 8 ft prevail at the NW basin, including the Windward Passage. Gentle to moderate winds and moderate seas prevail for the remainder of the Caribbean Sea.

For the forecast, a strong pressure gradient will continue to force fresh to strong NE winds over the NW Caribbean until Mon morning and through this afternoon in the Windward Passage. A broad surface trough over the SW N Atlantic waters extending into the Caribbean through Hispaniola will drift westward across the central Caribbean today while weakening. This trough will cause the pressure gradient to relax across most of the Caribbean, allowing for gentle to moderate trades across eastern and central basin through Mon. Looking ahead, a building ridge N of the area will enhance the trade wind flow over the central Caribbean to fresh to strong speeds Tue night through Thu.

...ATLANTIC OCEAN...

Please refer to the SPECIAL FEATURES section at the beginning on two Gale Warnings.

A tight pressure gradient between a strong high pressure over the NE United States and a 1009 mb low pressure currently located over the central Hispaniola coastal waters continues to support strong to minimal gale-force NE winds and very rough seas over most of the waters west of 65W. A complex low pressure system is generating similar conditions over the EE Atlantic subtropical waters. Surface ridging dominates the central subtropical Atlantic waters where winds are mainly gentle to moderate, and seas are 7-8 ft. Otherwise, gentle to moderate winds and seas are ongoing across the tropical Atlantic waters.

For the forecast W of 55W, a tight pressure gradient between the strong high pressure over the NE United States and the 1009 mb low pressure located over the central Hispaniola coastal waters will continue to support strong to minimal gale-force NE winds and very rough seas over most of the waters west of 65W through later this morning. However, strong to near gale force NE to E winds will continue to affect the offshore waters between the Bahamas and Bermuda through tonight. Afterward, marine conditions will continue to improve and by late Wed winds will be reduced to moderate to fresh speeds across the entire area. Looking ahead, the next cold front is forecast to move off the Georgia coast into the NE Florida offshore waters Wed night and reach from Bermuda to the central Bahamas Thu night.

Ramo