000 AGXX40 KNHC 291801 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 100 PM EST SAT DEC 29 2007 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. TWO LARGE CLOSED SYSTEMS DOMINATE THE MID LEVELS...A RIDGE CENTERED OVER BAHAMAS AND A LOW NEAR 28N38W. STRONG SWLY FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES OVER THE NW GULF...PARALLEL TO NEARLY STATIONARY FRONT FROM FLORIDA PANHANDLE TO BAY OF CAMPECHE. GALE FORCE WINDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW WELL E OF THE DISCUSSION AREA. SFC RIDGE N OF 30N PRODUCING MODERATE TRADE WINDS S OF 23N BETWEEN 50W AND 73W AND STRONG WINDS IN THE CARIBBEAN. NEXT 24 HOURS THE MID LEVEL RIDGE CHANGES LITTLE AND GALES PERSIST NEAR LOW AS PRES GRADIENT TIGHTENS AGAINST A LARGE RIDGE. STATIONARY FRONT STARTS TO RETROGRADE SLOWLY NW AND WINDS WILL WEAKEN A LITTLE WITH 20 KT WINDS EXPECTED ONLY IN IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF FRONT. MID LEVEL HEIGHTS BEGIN FALLING OVER THE NRN GULF AS SHORT WAVE MOVES TO 90W. CARIBBEAN WINDS REMAIN 20 TO 30 KT. LITTLE CHANGE ELSEWHERE. SUNDAY MID LEVEL RIDGE HOLDS FIRM OVER THE SE BAHAMAS AND WRN CUBA. STRONG SHORT WAVES IN THE WESTERLIES REMAIN N OF 35N MOVING RAPIDLY EWD. THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AND OPEN INTO A TROUGH NEAR 40W. GULF WINDS DECREASE TO 10 KT WHILE CARIB WINDS REMAIN 20 TO 25 KT. NEW YEARS DAY LARGE MID LEVEL TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED STRONG POLAR JET DIVE INTO THE S.E. CONUS. AN ARCTIC AIR MASS 1044 MB HIGH PLUNGES S INTO WRN TX WITH GALE CONDITIONS DEVELOPING OVER THE NW GULF BEHIND COLD FRONT...WHICH MOVES RAPIDLY SE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CARIB WINDS WEAKEN BELOW 20 KT AS THE ATLC RIDGE IS PUSHED EAST. TUESDAY DEEP TROUGH RAPIDLY MOVES OFF THE ERN SEABOARD WITH RIDGING BEHIND IT. MODIFIED ARCTIC AIR MASS 1040 MB HIGH MOVES SLOWLY EWD MAINTAINING STRONG NLY WINDS W OF 75W. GALE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EXCEPT FOR NW GULF NEAR THE HIGH CENTER. GALES LIKELY IN NW CARIBBEAN AS WELL. WARNINGS... ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. FORECASTER MUNDELL