000 AGXX40 KNHC 070606 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 205 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2008 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. GULF OF MEXICO...SOUTHEAST RETURN FLOW IS INCREASING OVER THE NORTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO...BETWEEN 1017 MB HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA AND DEEP 997 MB LOW PRESSURE OVER WEST TEXAS. SCATTEROMETER...SHIP...AND BUOY OBSERVATIONS SHOW 20 TO 25 KT WINDS CURRENTLY ALONG THE TEXAS COAST. 20 KT NE WINDS ARE ALSO EVIDENT OFF THE NW COAST OF YUCATAN...SOUTH OF THE HIGH. THE HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT EASTWARD INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC TODAY...AS THE LOW LIFTS OUT INTO THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THIS WILL ALLOW WINDS TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH THURSDAY...LEAVING GENERALLY LIGHT TO MODERATE FLOW AROUND THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE INTO SATURDAY. SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW WILL INCREASE AGAIN OVER THE WESTERN GULF STARTING LATE SATURDAY...AS ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE AREA MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES. CARIBBEAN AND TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC...A FRONTAL TROUGH N OF HISPANIOLA IS BREAKING UP THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURE IN THE AREA...RESULTING IN A WEAKER GRADIENT TO THE SOUTH. WINDS OFF THE MOUNTAINOUS COLOMBIAN AND WESTERN VENEZUELAN COASTS ARE TRENDING ONLY AROUND 20 KT CURRENTLY. THESE WILL INCREASE MAINLY OVER THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN THURSDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS NORTH OF THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONTAL TROUGH. A SHIP IN THE GULF OF HONDURAS WAS REPORTING 20 TO 25 KT...BUT NEARBY OBSERVATIONS ARE ONLY SHOWING 10 TO 15 KT. NONETHELESS FRESH SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE LIKELY AS THE RIDGE NOSES IN FROM THE NORTHEAST. FRESH TRADES PERSIST IN THE ATLC WATERS EAST OF THE LEEWARDS...ALONG WITH EAST SWELL TO 8 FT. SOME SITES IN THE LEEWARDS ARE REPORTING AFRICAN DUST...BUT TO ONLY 6 NM. NO SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS IN VISIBILITY ARE NOTED AT THIS TIME DUE TO DUST. FURTHER EAST...A VERY WEAK TROPICAL WAVE/TROUGH IS ANALYZED AROUND 55W OFF FRENCH GUIANA. THIS FEATURE IS VERY LOW AMPLITUDE AND HARD TO FIND...BUT MAY ADD SLIGHTLY TO THE TRADE WIND FLOW FROM GUYANA TO TRINIDAD. SW NORTH ATLANTIC...A WEAK COLD FRONT EXTENDS FROM JUST WEST OF BERMUDA TO A 1015MB LOW PRESSURE AREA CENTERED NEAR GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. WINDS UP TO 20 KT ARE NOTED JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT. GENERALLY LIGHT FLOW PERSISTS ELSEWHERE AS SURFACE HIGH PRES OVER THE CAROLINAS AND GULF OF MEXICO MERGE OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND OFF THE NORTH FLORIDA COAST BY THURSDAY NIGHT...BETWEEN THE HIGH PRESSURE OVER BERMUDA AND LOW PRESSURE DIGGING THROUGH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL DIP SOUTH BETWEEN BERMUDA AND THE CAROLINAS BY LATE SAT...WITH FRESH SOUTHWEST WINDS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE FRONT. WARNINGS... ATLC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. .FORECASTER CHRISTENSEN. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.