000 AGXX40 KNHC 020543 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 130 AM EST SUN JAN 02 2005 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. RIDGE REMAINS ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO THROUGH TUE. STRONG WINDS CONTINUING OVER THE SE GULF DECREASING LATE TUE AND WED AS THE RIDGE MOVES TO THE E AND A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE NW GULF ON THU. THE FRONT WILL BE WEAK WITH ONLY 10 TO 15 KT NLY WINDS BEHIND IT. IN FACT WINDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE GULF DECREASE TO 10 TO 15 KT TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD. ATLC RIDGE WILL KEEP STRONG WINDS S OF 25N THROUGH MUCH OF THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL DECREASE TO 15 TO 20 KT BY TUE AS THE MAIN HIGH CENTER MOVES TO THE E. WIND WILL BECOME S TO SW 10 TO 15 KT N OF AROUND 28N ON WED AND THU AS THE RIDGE AXIS DRIFTS TO THE S. ATLC RIDGE KEEPING STRONG WINDS ACROSS MOST OF THE CARIBBEAN WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS IN THE SW PORTION. THE SE CARIBBEAN WILL BE THE ONLY AREA WITH WINDS LESS THAN 20 KT. THIS PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS WEEK THEN WINDS WILL DECREASE IN THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN BY MID WEEK WITH THE ATLC HIGH MOVING TO THE E. BUT AS THE HIGH MOVES TO THE E THE WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER THE TROPICAL ATLC ZONE LATE WED INTO THU. WARNINGS... ATLC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. $$ FORECASTER DGS