000 FZNT23 KNHC 152116 OFFNT3 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN SEA NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC FROM 07N TO 22N BETWEEN 55W AND 65W SEAS GIVEN AS SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH IS THE AVERAGE HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST 1/3 OF THE WAVES. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE MORE THAN TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT. AMZ089-160330- SYNOPSIS FOR CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC FROM 07N TO 22N BETWEEN 55W AND 65W 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 .SYNOPSIS...PRES GRADIENT BETWEEN STRONG HIGH PRES CENTERED OVER THE WESTERN ATLC AND RELATIVE LOW PRES OVER THE CARIBBEAN SHOULD KEEP ENHANCED TRADES ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA TONIGHT AND EARLY TUE...WITH TRADES GRADUALLY DIMINISHING OVER THE TROPICAL ATLC AND THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN LATER TUE AND WED. LOW PRES WELL NE OF THE AREA SHOULD TRACK W TO WSW TOWARD THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN WED AND WEAKEN BEFORE PASSING OVER THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN OR SE BAHAMAS THU AND FRI BEFORE. LARGE SWELLS EXPECTED OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE TROPICAL N ATLC AND NE AND N CENTRAL CARIBBEAN PASSAGES TUE THROUGH THU SUBSIDING FROM E TO W BY FRI. $$ AMZ082-160330- NW CARIBBEAN N OF 15N W OF 75W 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 .TONIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT...S OF 18N E OF 81W NE TO E WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT. N OF 19N E OF 82W NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. ELSEWHERE NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT. .WED AND WED NIGHT...E OF 83W NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT S OF 18N AND 4 TO 7 FT ELSEWHERE. W OF 83W NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT BUILDING TO 5 TO 8 FT. .THU AND FRI...E OF 84W NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 20 KT FRI. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT EXCEPT 4 TO 7 FT N OF 20N SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 7 FT AREA WIDE FRI. .SAT...NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT EXCEPT 3 TO 5 FT N OF 20N SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FT EXCEPT 2 TO 4 FT N OF 20N. $$ AMZ084-160330- SW CARIBBEAN S OF 15N W OF 75W 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 .TONIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT...N OF 10N E OF 80W NE TO E WINDS 20 TO 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT EXCEPT TO 25 KT NEAR COAST OF COLOMBIA LATE TUE. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT SUBSIDING TO 7 TO 10 FT LATE TUE. ELSEWHERE NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT LATE TUE. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT IN NE SWELL SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 7 FT LATE TUE. .WED THROUGH THU...N OF 10N E OF 80W NE WINDS 20 KT EXCEPT 20 TO 25 KT NEAR COAST OF COLOMBIA. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT. ELSEWHERE NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. .FRI AND SAT...N OF 11N E OF 79W NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT EXCEPT TO 25 KT NEAR COAST OF COLOMBIA FRI. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 6 FT LATE SAT. ELSEWHERE NE WINDS 15 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT LATE SAT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FT LATE SAT. $$ AMZ086-160330- E CARIBBEAN E OF 75W TO LEEWARD AND WINDWARD ISLANDS 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 .TONIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT...S OF 15N E OF 65W NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. WINDWARD PASSAGE NE WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT BUILDING TO 5 TO 8 FT. ELSEWHERE NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 20 KT E OF 66W LATE TUE. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT E OF 67W AND 5 TO 8 FT W OF 67W EXCEPT 8 TO 11 FT IN NE SWELL NE AND N CENTRAL ATLC PASSAGES. .WED AND WED NIGHT...E OF 66W NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT LATE WED. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT EXCEPT 7 TO 10 FT NE ATLC PASSAGES. W OF 66W N TO NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT EXCEPT 7 TO 11 FT IN NE SWELL N CENTRAL ATLC PASSAGES. .THU AND FRI...E OF 67W NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FT EXCEPT 7 TO 10 FT IN NE SWELL NE ATLC PASSAGES SUBSIDING TO 6 TO 8 FT BY LATE FRI. WINDWARD PASSAGE NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. W OF 67W NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT LATE FRI. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 6 FT LATE FRI EXCEPT 7 TO 11 FT IN NE SWELL N CENTRAL PASSAGES SUBSIDING TO 6 TO 8 FT LATE FRI. .SAT...N OF 15N NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. S OF 15N NE TO E WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT. $$ AMZ087-160330- TROPICAL N ATLC FROM 07N TO 22N BETWEEN 55W AND 65W 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 .TONIGHT...N OF 19N W OF 61W N TO NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT BUILDING TO 9 TO 14 FT IN NE SWELL. ELSEWHERE N OF 18N N TO NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT IN NE SWELL N OF 18N AND 5 TO 8 FT S OF 18N. .TUE AND TUE NIGHT...N OF 19N W OF 62W N TO NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT IN N TO NE SWELL SUBSIDING TO 10 TO 12 FT LATE. ELSEWHERE N OF 18N E OF 60W SE TO S WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT IN N TO NE SWELL. ELSEWHERE NE TO E WINDS 10 KT OR LESS. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT IN NE SWELL. .WED AND THU...N OF 18N VARIABLE WINDS 10 KT BECOMING NE TO E 15 KT THU. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT IN N TO NE SWELL SUBSIDING TO 6 TO 8 FT LATE THU. ELSEWHERE N TO NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT IN NE SWELL SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 7 FT LATE THU. .FRI AND SAT...N OF 16N N TO NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT BUILDING TO 5 TO 8 FT. S OF 16N N TO NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KT N OF 13N SAT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT BUILDING TO 5 TO 8 FT. $$ AMZ088-160330- SYNOPSIS FOR THE SW N ATLC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 .SYNOPSIS...STRONG HIGH PRES OVER THE WESTERN ATLC NE OF THE AREA SHOULD GRADUALLY WEAKEN TUE THROUGH THU. NON-TROPICAL LOW PRES FORMING ALONG AND OLD FRONT E OF THE AREA TODAY SHOULD TRACK WSW TO SW THE NEXT FEW DAYS...WITH THE LOW LYING CLOSE TO 25N60W WED AFTERNOON AND 23N63W THU AFTERNOON. THE LOW SHOULD WEAKEN THU INTO FRI AND BECOME AN OPEN WAVE BEFORE MOVING OVER THE N CENTRAL CARIBBEAN OR SE BAHAMAS LATER FRI. FRESH TO STRONG N TO NE FLOW...POSSIBLY TO GALE FORCE...BETWEEN THE LOW AND HIGH PRES TO THE N SHOULD KEEP LARGE N TO NE SWELL OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA THROUGH THU BEFORE GRADUALLY DIMINISHING FRI AND SAT. $$ AMZ080-160330- SW N ATLC S OF 31N W OF 65W INCLUDING BAHAMAS 430 PM EST MON DEC 15 2008 ...GALE CONDITIONS EXPECTED 23N TO 29N E OF 69W WED INTO EARLY THU... .TONIGHT...E OF 77W NE TO E WINDS 20 TO 30 KT EXCEPT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 20 KT N OF 27N W OF 70W LATE. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT IN NE SWELL AND 5 TO 8 FT W OF THE BAHAMAS. ELSEWHERE E TO SE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT N OF 27N W OF 77W. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT N AND E OF BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 7 FT W OF BAHAMAS. .TUE AND TUE NIGHT...E OF 73W NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT BECOMING N TO NE 20 TO 30 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS FROM 22N TO 28N E OF 72W LATE. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT IN N TO NE SWELL. ELSEWHERE E OF 75W NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT IN NE SWELL N OF BAHAMAS AND 5 TO 8 FT W OF BAHAMAS. W OF 75W E TO SE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT IN NE TO E SWELL AND 4 TO 7 FT W OF BAHAMAS. .WED AND WED NIGHT...FROM 23N TO 29N E OF 69W N TO NE WINDS 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT. ELSEWHERE E OF 72W N TO NE WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT IN N TO NE SWELL. W OF 72W NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT EXCEPT E TO SE 10 KT OR LESS N OF 28N W OF 74W. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT NE OF BAHAMAS...6 TO 9 FT IN NE TO E SWELL N OF 28N W OF 74W...AND 4 TO 7 FT W OF BAHAMAS. .THU...E OF 74W NE WINDS 20 TO 30 KT BECOMING W TO NW S OF 24N E OF 70W. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT IN N TO NE SWELL. N OF 28N W OF 72W E TO SE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT IN NE TO E SWELL. ELSEWHERE NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT IN NE SWELL E OF BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 7 FT W OF BAHAMAS. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND TSTMS E CENTRAL PART NEAR LOW. .FRI...N OF 28N W OF 83W E TO SE WINDS 10 KT OR LESS. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT IN E SWELL. ELSEWHERE N OF 27N E WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 7 TO 9 FT IN NE TO E SWELL. S OF 27N NE TO E WINDS DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT IN NE TO E SWELL E OF BAHAMAS SUBSIDING TO 6 TO 10 FT LATE AND 4 TO 7 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FT W OF BAHAMAS. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TSTMS E HALF. .SAT...N OF 28N W OF 72W S TO SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT. ELSEWHERE N OF 29N SW TO W WINDS 10 KT OR LESS BECOMING S TO SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT. ELSEWHERE N OF 27N SE TO S WINDS 10 KT OR LESS. SEAS 4 TO 5 FT. S OF 27N NE TO E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT E OF BAHAMAS IN NE SWELL SUBSIDING TO 5 TO 8 FT AND 4 TO 7 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FT W OF BAHAMAS. $$ FORECASTER KIMBERLAIN