000
AGXX40 KNHC 301730
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION 
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
100 PM EST SUN DEC 30 2007

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

PRIMARY FEATURES ARE A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE ATLC 
EXTENDING FROM 1030 MB SFC HIGH NEAR 35N45W ACROSS S FLORIDA INTO 
THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO...A SUBTROPICAL LOW WELL EAST OF THE AREA 
NEAR 28N36W...AND A STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS THE NW GULF OF MEXICO. 
THE RIDGE REMAINS IN PLACE THROUGH MON NIGHT THEN SHIFTS EASTWARD AND
WEAKENS. THE SUBTROPICAL LOW IS STEERED SW BY THE BLOCKING HIGH TO 
THE NW AND GRADUALLY WEAKENS THROUGH WED WHILE REMAINING E OF 55W. 
THE STATIONARY FRONT BEGINS MOVING SE THIS AFTERNOON AS A SHORT WAVE 
PASSES BY. THE FRONT WILL STALL AGAIN TONIGHT AS ATLC RIDGE IMPEDES 
FURTHER MOVEMENT...THEN WEAKEN CONSIDERABLY MON AND MON NIGHT. WINDS 
IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA ARE MOSTLY 20 TO 25 KT EXCEPT TO 30 KT NEAR THE 
COAST OF COLOMBIA...WITH NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE EXPECTED THROUGH TUE.

MAJOR CHANGES OCCUR STARTING TUESDAY. STRONG SHORT WAVE IN WESTERLIES
GETS SURGE OF POLAR AIR OVER MIDWEST AND DIVES SE IN THE GULF WITH 
GALE CONDITIONS DEVELOPING BEHIND FRONT. THE FRONT WILL PUSH RAPIDLY 
EWD TO SRN FL. A 1044 MB HIGH IS FORECAST NEAR THE TX/LA BORDER WED. 
GALE TO NEAR GALE CONDITIONS SPREAD OVER ENTIRE GULF OF MEXICO BY 
TUE NIGHT AND STRONG N WINDS INVADE NW CARIB BEHIND FRONT.

THU AND FRI THE STRONG SFC HIGH SHIFTS ENE INTO THE ATLC...BRINGING
STRONGER WINDS TO THE CARIBBEAN AND THE SW NORTH ATLC AS THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT TIGHTENS UP. CONDITIONS MODERATE CONSIDERABLY IN THE GULF.

WARNINGS...
ATLANTIC...
NONE.

CARIBBEAN...
NONE. 

GULF OF MEXICO...
GALE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TUE AND TUE NIGHT.

FORECASTER MUNDELL