000 AGXX40 KNHC 310622 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 220 AM EDT FRI OCT 31 2008 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO... CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. GULF OF MEXICO... 1034 MB HIGH PRES OVER THE CAROLINAS WILL MAINTAIN FRESH NE WINDS FROM THE FLORIDA COAST TO THE BAY OF CAMPECHE THROUGH SAT. THE SURFACE HIGH WEAKENS IN RESPONSE TO AN UPPER TROUGH DIGGING THROUGH NEW ENGLAND...ALLOWING WINDS OVER THE GULF TO DIMINISH SUN INTO MON. WINDS DIMINISH FURTHER THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS THE SURFACE HIGH SHIFTS INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. CARIBBEAN AND TROP ATLC WATERS W OF 55W... QUIKSCAT AND BUOYS SHOW NE WINDS STILL REACHING 20 TO 25 KT OVER THE FAR NW CARIBBEAN...NW OF A TROUGH EXTENDING FROM THE WINDWARD PASSAGE TO EASTERN NICARAGUA. FRESH TRADES ARE EVIDENT OVER THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN AS WELL...SOUTH OF HIGH PRES OVER THE CAROLINAS AND AHEAD OF A TROPICAL WAVE ALONG 73W. THESE WINDS WILL DIMINISH SAT INTO SUN AS THE HIGH PRES TO THE NORTH WEAKENS. NORTHERLY SWELL TO 7 FT CONTINUES TO PUSH THROUGH THE ATLANTIC PASSAGES INTO THE NE CARIBBEAN...ALTHOUGH MOST OF THIS SWELL WILL DECAY TO LESS 6 FT THROUGH TOMORROW. MODERATE TO FRESH E TRADES PERSIST OVER THE TROP ATLC WATERS E OF THE LEEWARDS. SW N ATLC... A WEAKENING STATIONARY FRONT EXTENDS FROM 25N65W TO THE WINDWARD PASSAGE. A SURFACE HIGH PRES IS BUILDING INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...PUSHING A REINFORCING COLD FRONT SOUTH INTO THE WATERS BETWEEN N FLORIDA AND BERMUDA...THAT WILL MERGE WITH THE STATIONARY FRONT LATER TODAY. 20 TO 25 KT WINDS OUT OF THE NE PERSIST ON THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE HIGH PRES...WITH SWELL UP TO 10 FT. WINDS VEER MORE NE TO E AND DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AT LEAST THROUGH THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS INTO SUN AS THE HIGH PRES WEAKENS. THE MAIN FORECAST ISSUE FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK REMAINS POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WEAK TROUGH TO THE NE OF BAHAMAS IN RESPONSE TO AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. IF THIS SCENARIO PANS OUT...EXPECT FRESH TO STRONG EASTERLY WINDS TO PERSIST IN THE WATERS NE OF THE BAHAMAS BETWEEN N FLORIDA AND BERMUDA MON INTO TUE. ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. FORECASTER CHRISTENSEN. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.