000 AGXX40 KNHC 261934 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 335 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2009 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. GULF OF MEXICO... BUOY AND SCATTEROMETER OBSERVATIONS SHOW PERSISTENT 20 KT WINDS OUT OF THE SE WITH POCKETS OF 25 KT FLOW IN AREAS...BETWEEN HIGH PRES OVER THE WESTERN ATLC AND LOW PRES OVER NE MEXICO. CHANGE WILL COME BY LATE FRI AS SHORT WAVE ENERGY DIGS THROUGH THE ROCKIES AND SOUTHERN PLAINS...CUTTING OFF OVER TEXAS...THEN LIFTS OUT THROUGH THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY SAT. THIS WILL PUSH A COLD FRONT INTO THE NW GULF BY LATE FRI...AND THROUGH THE SE WATERS BY EARLY SUNDAY. MAIN ISSUE REMAINS GALE FORCE WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT FRI NIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY SAT OVER THE FAR WESTERN GULF. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO EXPAND THE AREA OF GALES A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH TO ALMOST THE TEXAS/MEXICO BORDER. WINDS DIMINISH INTO SUN AS HIGH PRES BUILDS BEHIND THE FRONT OVER THE NORTHERN GULF. SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW INCREASES OVER THE FAR WESTERN GULF BY LATE SUN BETWEEN THE HIGH PRES SHIFTING EASTWARD AND DEVELOPING LOW PRES OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND NORTHERN MEXICO. MODERATE TO FRESH SOUTHEAST FLOW WILL ONCE AGAIN DOMINATE THE GULF MON INTO TUE. CARIBBEAN... A BROAD SWATH OF FRESH TRADES REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN BASIN...WITH WIND TO 25 KT EVIDENT S OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND OFF THE COLOMBIAN COAST. THE MAIN DRIVER CONTINUES TO BE STRONG HIGH PRES N OF THE BAHAMAS. LONG PERIOD NORTHERLY SWELL IS STARTING TO SEEP THROUGH THE MONA AND ANEGADA PASSAGES WITH HEIGHTS TO 9 FT IN PLACES. WINDS OVER THE FAR NW CARIBBEAN WILL INCREASE FRI INTO SAT AS A FRONT MOVES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE FRONT MAKES IT INTO THE NW CARIBBEAN BY LATE SAT...THEN STALLS AND DISSIPATES THROUGH SUN WITH WINDS DIMINISHING. LARGE SWELL ABATES OVER THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN THIS WEEKEND AS WELL...LEAVING THE FRESH TRADES IN PLACE THROUGH THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL CARIBBEAN. ATLANTIC WATERS S OF 31N W OF 55W... HIGH PRES BUILDS BETWEEN BERMUDA AND THE BAHAMAS THROUGH TONIGHT. WINDS TO 20 KT CAN BE EXPECTED ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE HIGH PRES...MAINLY SW OF BERMUDA AND ALONG THE N FLORIDA COAST...THROUGH FRI. THE HIGH PRES SHIFTS EAST FRI THROUGH SUN...AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL EMERGE OFF THE SE U.S. COAST BY LATE SAT NIGHT/EARLY SUN MORNING. STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PRECEDE THE FRONT BETWEEN N FLORIDA AND BERMUDA SUN INTO MON...MAINLY N OF 27N...WITH WINDS POSSIBLY REACH 30 KT IN THIS SOUTHERLY FLOW. THE HIGH PRES RIDGE SHIFTS SOUTH OF THE FRONT THROUGH THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS LEAVING GENERALLY MODERATE TO FRESH WINDS IN PLACE FROM THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS THROUGH THE WINDWARD ISLANDS. LARGE NORTHERLY SWELL PUSHES SOUTHWARD TO THE GUYANA COAST BY EARLY SAT. WINDS AND SEAS DIMINISH ACROSS THE AREA MON INTO TUE. ATLANTIC... NONE. CARIBBEAN... NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. FORECASTER CHRISTENSEN. TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER.