000 AGXX40 KNHC 251852 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 200 PM EST FRI DEC 25 2009 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W GULF OF MEXICO... COLD FRONT EXITS GULF OF MEXICO EARLY TONIGHT BUT LEAVES BEHIND HEALTHY HIGH PRES RIDGE WITH STRONG WINDS AND LIFTED SEAS TO ABOVE 12 FT. WEAK TROUGH FORMS IN SW GULF LATE TONIGHT AND QUICKLY MOVES NE TO REINFORCE COLD FRONT...BUT NOT BEFORE MAINTAINING STRONG NE WINDS ACROSS GULF WITH SEAS TO 10-11 FT IN NE SWELLS. CARIBBEAN AND TROPICAL N ATLC W OF 55W... LOW PRES CENTER 1011 MB AT 22N67W WEAKENS AS IT DRIFTS E TO EVENTUALLY DISSIPATE TONIGHT OR EARLY SAT. PRES GRADIENT HAS BEEN LAX ACROSS CARIBBEAN LEADING TO LIGHT TO GENTLE BREEZE. HIGH PRES RIDGE OVER CENTRAL ATLC PUSHES COLD FRONT TO 20N INCREASING GRADIENT AND E TRADE WINDS SUN AND MON REACHING 25 KT ALONG NW COAST OF COLOMBIA BY WED. COLD FRONT ALSO USHERS COOL NE TRADES INTO CARIBBEAN AS WELL AS LARGE LONG PERIOD N SWELLS SEEPING THROUGH ATLC PASSAGES BETWEEN ANTILLES ISLANDS. SW N ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W... LOW PRES CENTER 1011MB AT 22N67W DRIFT E AND DISSIPATES TONIGHT OR EARLY SAT. COLD FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL ATLC BARELY REACH 65W BUT HIGH PRES RIDGE FORCES PLENTY OF FRESH TO STRONG COOL NORTHEASTERLIES INTO BASIN S OF 25N TONIGHT AND SAT. COLD FRONT NOW OVER FLORIDA ENTERS SW N ATLC LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT BRINGING ABUNDANT MOISTURE...STRONG WINDS AHEAD AND BEHIND FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND BUILDING SEAS TO ABOVE 12 FT. 12Z NWW3 RUN MUCH BETTER ALIGNED WITH SHIP AND BUOY REPORTS ON SEA HEIGHTS AND ALTHOUGH WE SUSPECT IT IS TOO SLOW TO BRING SEAS DOWN...WE WILL ACCEPT ITS SOLUTION FOR SW N ATLC BASIN. SECOND SURGE OF STRONG WINDS FOLLOW LATE MON AND TUE REBUILDING SEAS BACK TO THE 13-14 FT HEIGHTS...MAINLY N OF 28N. RIDGE LEAVES BEHIND LONG FETCH FOR NE WINDS TO BUILD SWELLS WED. WARNINGS... ATLC... .NONE. CARIBBEAN... .NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... .NONE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE $$ FORECASTER WALLY BARNES