000 AGXX40 KNHC 281704 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 100 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2008 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. SW N ATLC... THE MAIN WEATHER INFLUENCE CONTINUES TO BE A SURFACE RIDGE EXTENDING FROM THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC THROUGH THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA. A MID/UPPER TROUGH IS DIGGING OFF THE U.S. EAST COAST NORTH OF 31N...SUPPORTING A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH OVER THE CAROLINA COAST. THIS IN TURN IS MAINTAINING MODERATE TO FRESH SW WINDS OFF THE N FLORIDA COAST BETWEEN THE TROUGH AND THE RIDGE. THESE WINDS DIMINISH STARTING LATE TODAY OVERNIGHT AS THE UPPER TROUGH GRADUALLY LIFTS OUT THROUGH MID WEEK...LEAVING GENERALLY ZONAL MID LEVEL FLOW. MEANWHILE...A PAIR OF TROPICAL WAVES MOVING INTO THE CARIBBEAN SOUTH OF THE RIDGE WILL MAINTAIN MODERATE TRADES FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO THE TURKS/CAICOS. GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS PREVAIL OTHERWISE THROUGH MID WEEK. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE WEEKEND...ANOTHER UPPER TROUGH BEGINS TO DIG INTO THE EASTERN U.S. BY THU...INCREASING WINDS OFF THE N FLORIDA COAST SLIGHTLY BY FRI. TRADES MAY ALSO INCREASE BY LATE WEEK EAST OF THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS AND ATLANTIC WATERS SOUTH OF 20N W OF 55W...AS ANOTHER TROPICAL WAVE ENTERS THE CARIBBEAN. CARIBBEAN... 20 TO 25 KT SHOWED UP THIS MORNING ON THE QUIKSCAT PASS OFF THE COLOMBIAN COAST. IN FACT...BUOY 42058 HAS RECENTLY REPORTED 25 KT...AN INDICATION THAT THE SWATH OF STRONG TRADES OVER THE SOUTH CENTRAL CARIBBEAN IS EXPANDING NORTHWARD AS EXPECTED. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT SOUTH OF A SURFACE RIDGE NORTH OF CUBA AND HISPANIOLA THAT IS SHIFTING SLIGHTLY SOUTH...AND A PAIR OF WEAK TROPICAL WAVES MOVING THROUGH THE BASIN. WINDS WILL DIMINISH BY LATE WEEK AS THE RIDGE SHIFTS TO THE NORTH...LEAVING MODERATE TO FRESH TRADES ACROSS THE AREA. GULF OF MEXICO... A SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDS FROM THE WESTERN ATLC ACROSS THE GULF THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH IS NOTED OVER NORTHERN GULF WATERS NEAR THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THE TROUGH DAMPENS OUT THROUGH TUE AS THE UPPER SUPPORT LIFTS OUT...AND THE RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE CENTRAL GULF. MODERATE RETURN FLOW IS EXPECTED ALONG TEXAS COAST THROUGH THE WEEK ON THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE RIDGE. 15 TO 20 KT WINDS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE BAY OF CAMPECHE LATER IN THE WEEK AS TROPICAL WAVES MIGRATE WESTWARD TO SOUTH OF THE AREA. WARNINGS... ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. .FORECASTER CHRISTENSEN. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.