000 AGXX40 KNHC 290524 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 125 AM EDT WED OCT 29 2008 UPDATED WINDS IN THE NW CARIBBEAN SEA BEHIND FRONT MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO... CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. GULF OF MEXICO... COLD 1025 MB SURFACE HIGH PRES IS SHIFTING THROUGH THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BEHIND A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT MOVED THROUGH THE AREA OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THE COLD AIR ADVECTION BEHIND THE FRONT OVER THE RELATIVELY WARM GULF WATERS HAS ALLOWED FOR PERSISTENT STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS. 20 TO 25 KT WINDS ARE STILL EVIDENT OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF PER QUIKSCAT AND BUOYS...BUT WINDS PARTICULARLY OVER THE NW GULF ARE STARTING TO DIMINISH AS THE GRADIENT LOOSENS NEAR THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING HIGH PRES. THE PERSISTENT NORTHERLY FLOW HAS ALSO RESULTED IN SWELL TO 8 FT LINGERING IN THE BAY OF CAMPECHE. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TO AT LEAST 10 TO 15 KT OVER MOST OF THE GULF TODAY AS THE HIGH PRES SHIFTS EAST. THE RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN U.S. STARTING THU...ALLOWING EAST WINDS TO INCREASE OVER THE SE GULF THROUGH THE WEEKEND. CARIBBEAN AND TROPICAL ATLC WATERS W OF 55W... STRONG WINDS PERSIST OVER THE NW CARIBEBAN BEHIND A COLD FRONT FROM EASTERN CUBA TO NE HONDURAS. A QUIKSCAT PASS FROM 2342Z SHOWED NE 30 KT WINDS JUST SOUTH OF THE ISLE OF YOUTH AND WEST OF GRAND CAYMAN. THE FRONT IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN AS THE UPPER SUPPORT LIFTS OUT. WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT TODAY...ALTHOUGH FRESH NE TO E FLOW WILL PERSIST MAINLY OVER THE NW CARIBBEAN INTO THE WEEKEND SOUTH OF HIGH PRES OVER THE SOUTHEAST U.S. WINDS DIMINISH ACROSS THE BASIN BY SUNDAY AS STALLED FRONT DISSIPATES AND THE SURFACE HIGH TO THE NORTH LIFTS OUT. NORTHERLY SWELL UP TO 7 FT WITH PERIODS TO 10S WILL CONTINUE TO FILTER THROUGH THE ATLC PASSES THROUGH FRI. GLOBAL MODELS HINT OF A WEAK SURFACE LOW IN THE SW CARIBBEAN N OF PANAMA AND EAST OF NICARAGUA BY LATE SUN. WILL HOLD OFF INCORPORATING THIS INTO THE FORECAST FOR NOW. MODERATE TO FRESH TRADES PERSIST OVER THE TROPICAL N ATLC EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES WITH NE TO E SWELL TO 9 FT INTO THE WEEKEND. SW N ATLC... COLD FRONT EXTENDS FROM 31N65W TO EASTERN CUBA. NW 20 TO 25 KT WINDS STILL EVIDENT BEHIND THE FRONT WITH SEAS UP TO 12 FT IN N SWELL. THE FRONT WILL MAKE SLOW PROGRESS EAST BEFORE STALLING THROUGH THE WINDWARD PASSAGE BY THU. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TODAY OVER MOST OF AREA BETWEEN THE BAHAMAS AND BERMUDA AS HIGH PRES BUILDS EASTWARD. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE ALONG THE FRONT THROUGH THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS. A BACKDOOR FRONT WILL PUSH INTO THE AREA S OF 31N BY LATE THU AS THE HIGH PRES BUILDS EASTWARD INTO THE WESTERN ATLC. THE REINFORCING COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL WILL BRING A NEW SURGE FRESH NORTHERLY WINDS BETWEEN N FLORIDA AND BERMUDA INTO THE WEEKEND...AS WINDS DIMINISH ALONG THE DISSIPATING STATIONARY FRONT OVER THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS AND TURKS/CAICOS. ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. FORECASTER CHRISTENSEN. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.