000 AGXX40 KNHC 170707 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 300 AM EDT MON MAR 17 2008 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. BROAD UPPER LEVEL RIDGE CENTERED JUST N OF LAKE MARACAIBO EXTENDS NW AS FAR AS WRN GULF OF MEXICO. VERY DRY AIR MASS UNDER RIDGE COVERAGE EXTENDS THROUGHOUT ENTIRE FORECAST REGION. ONLY MOISTURE JUST MAKING IT ACROSS TEXAS AT THIS TIME ENTERING GULF OF MEXICO. DEEP LAYER LARGE AMPLITUDE UPPER TROUGH ACROSS ROCKIES MOVING QUICKLY ACROSS FOUR CORNERS INTO WRN TEXAS TO REINFORCE SURFACE TROUGH OVER WRN TEXAS AND KICK COLD FRONT EWD. SURFACE LOW PRES AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT TIGHTEN PRES GRADIENT WITH BROAD RIDGE SITTING ALONG 80W DRIVING SE WINDS ACROSS WRN GULF TO GALE FORCE STRENGTH BY TONIGHT. LONG FETCH AND DURATION ADD LONG PERIOD LARGE SWELLS INTO FORECAST WHICH APPEARS TO BE WELL TAKEN BY NWW3 INTO ITS SOLUTION. GLOBAL MODELS HAVE WINDS QUICKLY ABATING AS RIDGE IS FORCED TO MOVE SE INTO ATLC. COLD FRONT BRINGS STRONG N-NWLY WINDS ALSO AT GALE FORCE LASTING TILL WED. AS NEW HIGH PRES CENTER 1026 MB TAKES OVER GULF WINDS ABATE AND VEER FROM NE TO BECOME E-SE THROUGH FRI. COLD FRONT 27N65W ACROSS CENTRAL BAHAMAS TO 25N80W MOVES OUT OF BASIN TONIGHT LEAVING IN ITS WAKE STRONG NLY FLOW REACHING GALE FORCE THROUGH TUE NIGHT WHEN GALES MOVE E OUT OF AREA. LARGE LONG PERIOD SWELLS SPREAD ACROSS ENTIRE SW N ATLC REACHING TRPCL ATLC AND CARIBBEAN ISLAND PASSAGES LATE TONIGHT. WINDS BEGINS ABATING TUE AS RIDGE IS FORCED E BUT SWELLS WILL LINGER WELL INTO NEXT COLD FRONT EXPECTED WED NIGHT. COLD FRONT BRINGS STRONG NE BREEZE OVER SW N ATLC BUT NOTHING CLOSE TO WHAT JUST WENT THROUGH. CARIBBEAN REMAINS SQUEEZED BY HEALTHY HIGH PRES OVER SW N ATLC AND 1009 MB LOW PRES CENTER OVER COLOMBIA INCREASING E TRADES SPECIALLY ALONG COAST OF COLOMBIA. SWELL TRICKLE INTO CARIBBEAN BASIN STARTING LATE TUE THROUGH PASSAGES MAINLY ON ERN HALF OF BASIN AS RIDGE FORCES N-NE WIND AND WAVES THROUGH THEM. WIND CONTINUE WITH LITTLE CHANGE THROUGH FRI. WARNINGS... ATLANTIC... GALE WARNING N OF 28N E OF 72W...AMZ080. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... GALE WARNING TUE N OF 25N W OF 90W...GMZ080. FORECASTER WALLY BARNES