000 AGXX40 KNHC 271751 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 200 PM EDT MON APR 27 2009 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. GULF OF MEXICO... STEADY FRESH TO STRONG E-SE FLOW CONTINUES ACROSS ENTIRE GULF AS RESULT OF HEALTHY AND WELL ANCHORED 1032 MB HIGH PRES CENTER AT 33N70W. FUNNELING OF NEAR GALE E WINDS ACROSS FLORIDA STRAITS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE GULFSTREAM CURRENT HAS PRODUCED MUCH HIGHER AND STEEPER THAN USUAL SEAS...WELL ABOVE MODEL GUIDANCE. HIGH PRES WEAKENS TUE NIGHT AND WED THEN DRIFT E RELAXING GRADIENT OVER ALL BASINS AND ALLOWING WINDS TO DIMINISH. NEXT COLD FRONT APPROACHES CENTRAL TEXAS VERY LATE IN FORECAST PERIOD INCREASING SE RETURN FLOW W OF 95W. SW N ATLC... HIGH PRES 1032 MB N OF AREA FORCES BROAD SWATH OF 20-30 KT NE-E WINDS ACROSS BASIN S OF 26N-27N W OF 60W...FUNNELING THROUGH STRAITS OF FLORIDA INTO SE GULF...AS WELL AS WINDWARD PASSAGE. LONG NE-SW FETCH SPREADS MODERATE PERIOD WIND SWELL PRODUCING VERY ROUGH AND STEEP SEAS IN PASSAGES BETWEEN ISLANDS. WW3 GUIDANCE LAGS WELL BEHIND SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER SHIP REPORTS. GUIDANCE ALSO INDICATES...HOPEFULLY CORRECT...THAT HIGH PRES WEAKENS AND MOVES E LATE TUE THROUGH THU...HENCE RELAXING PRES GRADIENT AND DIMINISHING WINDS. SUBSIDING SEAS FOLLOW CLOSE... EVEN THOUGH LONG FETCH EASTERLIES REMAIN BEYOND SAT...BUT AT A MUCH LESSER STRENGTH. CARIBBEAN AND TROPICAL N ATLC... DEEPENING LOW PRES OVER COLOMBIA 1008 MB MAINTAINS TIGHT GRADIENT WITH ATLC 1032 MB HIGH PRES OVER ATLC. AS LOW PRES FILLS SLOWLY AND HIGH PRES DRIFT E...STRONG EASTERLY TRADES ACROSS TROPICAL ATLC AND CARIBBEAN BASINS...WHICH HAS TOPPED 30 KT ALONG COAST OF COLOMBIA...DIMINISH THROUGH FRI AND SAT. ONLY FLY IN THE OINTMENT IS TROPICAL ATLC WHICH WILL CONTINUE ON THE RECEIVING SIDE OF LONG EASTERLY FETCH AS RIDGE DRIFT INTO CENTRAL ATLC. ATLC... .NONE.. CARIBBEAN... .NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... .NONE. FORECASTER WALLY BARNES. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.