000
AGXX40 KNHC 151702
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
103 PM EDT THU MAY 15 2008

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

UPPER LEVELS...
STRONG TROUGH N OF 20N IS MOVING EAST OF THE ATLANTIC AREA WITH 
AN AXIS ALONG 56W. WEST OF 66W BROAD RIDGE COVERS THE AREA. 
TROUGH WILL BE EAST OF 55W EARLY SATURDAY. THE RIDGE WILL SPREAD 
OVER THE AREA BEHIND THE TROUGH BUT WILL FLATTEN AS THE 
WESTERLIES EXTEND SOUTH TO 25N ON SUNDAY. THIS PATTERN WILL 
CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY. A PERSISTENT SHORTWAVE WILL BE OVER 
THE NORTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

SURFACE...
LOW OVER WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND HIGH OVER THE NORTHWEST PART 
OF THE ATLANTIC AREA WILL CAUSE SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW OVER THE 
GULF OF MEXICO TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. THE LOW WILL MOVE NORTHEAST 
FRIDAY WEAKENING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE GULF. A WEAK 
COLD FRONT WILL MOVE OFF THE TEXAS COAST THIS EVENING AND MOVE 
TO THE CENTRAL GULF...FROM NORTH FLORIDA TO BAY OF CAMPECHE 
SATURDAY. THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE EAST BUT WILL BE WEAKENING 
OVER THE EAST GULF. AN ASSOCIATED DEVELOPING LOW OVER THE MIDDLE 
ATLANTIC STATES WILL INCREASE THE SOUTHERLY FLOW IN THE 
NORTHWEST ATLANTIC TONIGHT AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. CONTINUOUS 
LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF THE ATLANTIC AREA WILL 
MAINTAIN SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW OF 20 KNOTS OR MORE NORTH OF THE 
RIDGE WHICH WILL LIE ALONG 25N.

TRADES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND TROPICAL ATLANTIC SHOULD BE LESS 
THAN NORMAL AND BE CONFINED TO SOUTH OF 15N THROUGH THE FORECAST 
PERIOD. 

WARNINGS...

ATLC...
NONE. 

CARIBBEAN...
NONE.

GULF OF MEXICO...
NONE.

.FORECASTER LL. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.