000 AGXX40 KNHC 041834 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 135 PM EST SUN JAN 04 2009 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO... CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. NO SIGNIFICANT SYNOPTIC FEATURES ACROSS THE DISCUSSION AREA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AN ATLANTIC RIDGE IS POSITIONED ALONG 28N THAT WILL SHIFT E AND GRADUALLY STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON OR EVENING A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH OFF THE TEXAS COAST AND INTO THE NW GULF OF MEXICO. THE FRONT WILL BE REINFORCED ON TUESDAY AND MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS THE GULF AND INTO THE ATLANTIC. BY WEDNESDAY MORNING THE FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE E GULF OF MEXICO WITH GALE FORCE WIND CONDITIONS AHEAD OF THE FRONT OVER THE ATLANTIC N OF 29N. WINDS WILL NOT QUITE REACH GALE FORCE BEHIND THE FRONT. SEAS WILL BUILD AS HIGH AS 12 FEET OVER THE NE GULF AND TO 15 OR 16 FEET OVER THE ATLANTIC. BY THURSDAY THE FRONT WILL MOVE TO NEAR 31N68W ACROSS THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND INTO THE NW CARIBBEAN AND GALE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE E OF THE FRONT N OF 29N. A HIGH WILL BECOME POSITIONED OVER THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO. THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING EASTWARD ON FRIDAY AND A RIDGE AXIS WILL BE LOCATED ALONG A NORTH-SOUTH AXIS OVER THE GULF ALONG 85W. ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. FORECASTER CAB. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.