000
AGXX40 KNHC 241919
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION  
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
220 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

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

GULF OF MEXICO...
BUOY REPORTS AND ASCAT DATA VERIFY GALE FORCE WINDS AHEAD OF 
STRONG COLD FRONT FROM 30N94W TO 24N98W WITH SUDDEN NW SHIFT 
BEHIND BOUNDARY.  SEVERAL REPORTED SEAS A NOTCH HIGHER THAN 
MODEL GUIDANCE SO WILL UP SEAS ABOVE NWW3 TO MATCH.  GALE PEAKS 
TONIGHT AND FRONT EXITS GULF SAT AS HIGH PRES 1021 MB BUILDS IN 
ITS WAKE.  GFS AND NAM GUIDANCE BRING WEAK SURFACE TROUGH ALONG 
95W BY SUN.  TROUGH INTENSIFIES AND SHIFT NE THROUGH MON WITH  
FRESH TO STRONG N WINDS W OF BOUNDARY.  MODERATE TO FRESH N-NE 
WINDS WITH SEAS TOPPING 8 FT IN NE SWELL MAINLY IN SW GULF. 

CARIBBEAN AND TROPICAL N ATLC W OF 55W...
WITH LOW PRES CENTER 1010 MB JUST N OF HISPANIOLA...PRES 
GRADIENT EASES AND LEAVES GENTLE TO MODERATE BREEZE IN CENTRAL 
AND WESTERN HALF OF BASIN.  ONLY SE STRONG BREEZE FEEDING WARM 
MOIST AIR MASS TO LOW PRES LINGERS IN EASTERN CARIBBEAN WITH 
SCATTERED SHOWERS E OF 70W.  ONCE LOW PRES MOVES E ENTIRE 
CARIBBEAN REMAINS WITH GENTLE TO MODERATE BREEZE UNTIL TUE WHEN 
GRADIENT STARTS INCREASING AGAIN. 

SW N ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W...
LOW PRES 1010 MB CENTER AT 22N72W CONTINUE DRIFTING E-NE TONIGHT 
AND FRI ALONG STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG 22N...THEN BE 
ABSORBED BY COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL ATLC SE OF BERMUDA 
LATE FRI OR SAT.  HIGH PRES BUILD BEHIND FRONT OVER SW N ATLC 
BUT IS QUICKLY FORCED E BY SECOND COLD FRONT OFF FLORIDA COAST 
LATE SAT AND SUN WITH INCREASE IN SW FLOW AHEAD OF FRONT AND 
STRONG TO NEAR GALE NW WINDS WITH SEAS TO 13 FT EXPECTED W OF 
FRONT.
 
WARNINGS...

ATLC...
.NONE.

CARIBBEAN...
.NONE.

GULF OF MEXICO...
.GALE WARNING NW GULF...ZONE GMZ080.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT 
HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE

$$
FORECASTER WALLY BARNES