000 AGXX40 KNHC 191819 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 120 PM EST SAT JAN 19 2008 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. UPPER LEVELS... LARGE HIGH PRESSURE IS CENTERED OVER THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLANTIC AND THE NORTHERN PART OF THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC WITH A RIDGE EXTENDING WEST SOUTHWESTWARD OVER THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN MEXICO AND NORTHERN CENTRAL AMERICA. SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW IS NORTHWEST OF THE RIDGE WITH A STRONG SHORTWAVE OVER THE NORTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO. THE SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE RAPIDLY EAST AND NORTHEAST AND AWAY FROM THE AREA BY LATE SUNDAY. THE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN SLIGHTLY AND EXTEND EAST-WEST SOUTH OF 25N BY LATE MONDAY WITH MODERATE WESTERLY FLOW NORTH OF 25N. THIS PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY. SURFACE... LOW IN GULF OF MEXICO WILL QUICKLY MOVE NORTHEAST AND BE ABSORBED IN THE FRONTAL TROUGH. COLD FRONT WILL MOVE TO ACROSS THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE ATLANTIC TO THE SOUTHEAST EDGE OF THE GULF OF MEXICO LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY SUNDAY. FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST BUT LOOSE ITS IDENTITY BY TUESDAY AS STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS NORTH OF THE ATLANTIC AREA. RIDGE REMAINS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST U.S. SO WINDS IN GULF CONTINUE TO BE 20 TO 25 KT THROUGH MONDAY. FAST MOVING COLD FRONT WILL BRUSH BY THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ATLANTIC AREA WEDNESDAY. STRONGER COLD FRONT WILL MOVE OFF THE NORTH GULF COAST LATE WEDNESDAY AND BY LATE THURSDAY EXTEND FROM NEAR 31N75W ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA TO NORTHEAST MEXICO. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL BE IN THE 20 TO 25 KT RANGE BEHIND THIS FRONT. EASTERLY TRADES IN THE CARIBBEAN WILL BE IN THE 20 TO 25 KT RANGE THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH OCCASIONAL 30 KT WINDS NEAR THE COAST OF COLOMBIA. TROPICAL ATLANTIC TRADES WILL ALSO BE IN THE 20 TO 25 KT RANGE BEFORE DECREASING SOME THURSDAY. WARNINGS... ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. FORECASTER LL