000
AGXX40 KNHC 170843
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
330 AM EDT THU APR 17 2008

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND 
SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W.

UPPER LEVELS...
VERY STRONG CYCLONIC VORTEX 33N71W CUT OFF FROM MAIN LONGWAVE 
TROUGH STILL MAINTAINS HEALTHY SPIN IN OTHERWISE VERY DRY 
ENVIRON.  BROAD RIDGE TO ITS W COVERS ENTIRE GULF OF MEXICO IN 
SIMILARLY DRY AIR MASS.  ANTICYCLONE ALOFT AT 15N66W EXTENDS 
DRYNESS INTO ENTIRE CARIBBEAN.  ONLY THIN SWATH OF MOISTURE LEFT 
OVER ENTIRE FORECAST REGIONS FOLLOWS CLOSELY ALONG COLD FRONT IN 
ERN PARTS OF SW N ATLC BASIN. 

VORTEX SHIFTING NE WILL DRAG SURFACE LOW PRES 1005 MB AND ITS 
ASSOCIATED STRONG WINDS FURTHER AWAY FROM REGION.

SURFACE...
SW N ATLC...LOW PRES NOW N OF AREA HEADS NE STILL WITH A VERY 
DEFINE SPIN.  WINDS OVER SW N ATLC EXPECTED TO DIMINISH QUICKLY 
AS HIGH PRES 1024 MB SETTLES OVER BASIN ALONG 31N.  LINGERING 
LONG PERIOD LARGE N SWELL TRAINS W OF 70W ALL THE WAY S TO 22N.  

GULF OF MEXICO...RETURN FLOW W OF 95W STRENGTHENS AS COLD FRONT 
ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE OVER N TEXAS APPROACHES 
COASTAL WATERS FRI.  FRONT REACHES FROM 30N86W TO 19N92W SAT 
THEN BECOMES DIFFUSE AS HIGH PRES 1020 MB SETTLES OVER NWRN 
GULF. 

CARIBBEAN SEA AND TRPCL ATLC...REBUILDING RIDGE OVER SW N ATLC 
SQUEEZES GRADIENT OVER BASIN ENHANCING E-NE TRADES SPECIALLY 
ALONG COAST OF COLOMBIA WHERE WEAK LOW PRES 1006 MB LINGERS ON.
LONG FETCH ACROSS CENTRAL ATLC REACHES LESSER ANTILLES WITH 
MODERATE SWELLS S OF 18N.  
 
WARNINGS...

ATLC...
NONE. 

CARIBBEAN...
NONE.

GULF OF MEXICO...
NONE.

.FORECASTER WALLY BARNES. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.