000 AGXX40 KNHC 211813 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 113 PM EST Thu Dec 21 2017 Marine Weather Discussion for the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Tropical North Atlantic from 07N to 19N between 55W and 64W and the Southwest North Atlantic including the Bahamas ...GULF OF MEXICO... A trough extends from central Florida to the mouth of the Mississippi River will lift north tonight. Gentle to moderate southerly return flow across the western Gulf will increase tonight and Fri as low pressure moves through the Southern Plains into the mid Mississippi Valley. A trailing cold front will enter the northwest Gulf Fri night, followed by strong northerly winds. The forecast is for near gale force winds off Tampico by mid Saturday behind the front, below GFS guidance, but in line with GFS ensemble and SREF guidance. The front and accompanying winds diminish through Sat night, just ahead of a reinforcing cold front entering the northwest Gulf Sun. Another round of strong northerly winds and building seas will follow the new front across the northern and western Gulf before it merges with the first front. Winds and seas diminish early next week as the merged front stalls across the far southeast Gulf. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... High pressure north of the region will maintain strong trade winds over the central and southwest Caribbean, with near gale force winds near the coast of Colombia each night into early next week. Fresh to strong NE winds are expected through the Windward Passage as well. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Low pressure near 32N68W is moving east toward Bermuda with a trailing cold front moving south of 30N currently. Strong SW winds are noted north of 28N ahead of the front to 65W on an earlier scatterometer satellite pass, with seas estimated near 9 ft. Winds and seas will shift east of the area with the front through Fri as high pressure builds north of the region. This will allow fresh to strong NE winds near the approaches to the Windward Passage Fri night. Another cold front will move off the northeast Florida coast Sun, and stall from near Bermuda to central Cuba Tue. Fresh to strong NW winds will follow the front off the NE Florida coast early Mon, with seas approaching 8 ft. Winds and seas diminish north of 22N through Tue as the front stalls and weakens and as high pressure builds north of the area. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *For detailed zone descriptions, please visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/abouttafbprod.shtml#OWF Note: gridded marine forecasts are available in the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/grids.php For additional information, please visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine $$ .Forecaster Christensen. National Hurricane Center.