000
AGXX40 KNHC 181705
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION   
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 
100 PM THU MAY 18 2006

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND 
SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W.

UPPER LEVELS...
UPPER RIDGE IS OVER MOST OF THE CARIBBEAN...THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC 
AND THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE ATLANTIC AREA.  ELSEWHERE A TROUGH IS 
ANALYZED.  THE RIDGE IS FORECAST TO EXPAND OVER MOST OF THE AREA BY 
SUNDAY WITH A WEAK TROUGH OVER TEXAS AND THE WESTERN GULF OF 
MEXICO.  THE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH THE WEAK 
TROUGH OVER MOST OF THE GULF OF MEXICO BY TUESDAY.

SURFACE...
FRONT OVER THE ATLANTIC AREA FROM JUST WEST OF BERMUDA TO CENTRAL 
CUBA WILL MOVE LITTLE AND WEAKEN AS A RIDGE BUILDS ALONG 27N.  BY 
SUNDAY THE RIDGE WILL BE ESTABLISHED ALONG 28N WITH THE FRONT ONLY  
A WEAK TROUGH OVER THE ATLANTIC WITH AN AXIS THROUGH 31N60W TO 
CENTRAL CUBA.

WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT WILL DECREASE TO LESS THAN 20 KT 
SATURDAY.  OTHERWISE THE ONLY WINDS OF 20 KNOTS OR MORE ARE THE 
TRADE WINDS IN THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN.  THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE 
NEAR THE COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA.  THESE WINDS WILL BECOME 
ESTABLISHED AS THE RIDGE BUILDS NORTH OF THE AREA.
 
WARNINGS...

ATLANTIC...
NONE.

CARIBBEAN...
NONE.

GULF OF MEXICO...
NONE.

FORECASTER LL