000 AGXX40 KNHC 021857 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 157 PM EST Fri Mar 2 2018 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 cold front extends from Tampa Bay Florida to the SW Gulf near Veracruz Mexico with a secondary front from 29N83W to NE Mexico. Fresh to strong winds follow offshore of the coast of Veracruz with fresh NE winds elsewhere behind the boundaries. Seas are up to 4-6 ft behind the fronts. The fronts will merge today, with the merged front reaching from S Florida to the central Gulf along 25N to near Veracruz Mexico tonight, then dissipate across the W portion while the E portion of front sinks S into the Straits of Florida Sat afternoon then dissipates. A ridge will build across the northern Gulf Sun and Mon. Another cold front may move into the NW Gulf Mon night, moving across the basin through Tue night. Moderate to fresh southerly flow will be ahead of this next front, with fresh to strong northerly flow behind it by Tue night. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A relatively weak pres pattern supports moderate to fresh trades, except locally to strong offshore of the NW coast of Colombia. Seas are mainly 4-6 ft in the Caribbean, except up to 7-9 ft offshore of the NW coast of Colombia, and 1-3 ft N of 18N. In the tropical N Atlantic, a weak pres pattern is supporting gentle to moderate winds, while large NE swell continues to propagate across the waters. A low pressure system will develop across the NW Atlc through the weekend and produce a large N swell that will penetrate the NE Caribbean Passages Sun through late Tue, reaching the A-B-C Islands and coastal Venezuela. This low which will remain well N of the area, will also drag a cold front into the northern portion of the Caribbean this weekend with fresh northerly flow behind it. The pres gradient will tighten by Tue night allowing for fresh to strong trades to expand in coverage across the central Caribbean. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extends from 31N72W to near Melbourne Florida with a secondary front from 31N75W to near Daytona Beach Florida. Gentle to moderate southerly flow prevails S of 27N and S of the fronts, with fresh to minimal gale force southerly flow N of 27N and N of the fronts, shifting to W to NW behind the fronts. The fronts will merge today with strong to gale force winds prevailing north of 24N east of 75W. The merged fronts, and associated area of gale force winds will shift E of the area Sun. The largest swell event thus far in this winter season will accompany this system, affecting all waters E of Florida and the Bahamas through Tue. Another strong cold front may impact the waters E of Florida Tue night. Fresh to near gale force southerly flow may develop ahead of this next front N of 27N by Tue night. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... Gale Warning today through Sun night. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... Gale Warning today through Sun night. $$ *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 Lewitsky. National Hurricane Center.