000 AGXX40 KNHC 190636 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 236 AM EDT SUN SEP 19 2010 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC...AND SOUTHWEST NORTH ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W. GULF OF MEXICO... A TROUGH EXTENDS ACROSS THE W GULF FROM NEAR GALVESTON TX TO NEAR VILLAHERMOSA MEXICO WITH RIDGING TO THE N ACROSS THE N GULF COAST STATES. AS A RESULT A TIGHT PRES GRADIENT IS IN PLACE OVER THE MAJORITY OF THE GULF. A 0246 UTC ASCAT PASS INDICATED 15-20 KT E-SE WINDS WITH A FEW SHIP OBS REPORTING 20 KT WITH EVEN ONE 25 KT REPORT OVER THE CENTRAL GULF AND NEAR THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA. THE TROUGH WILL LINGER IN THE FAR W GULF WHILE RIDGING REMAINS JUST N OF THE WATERS THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE STRONGEST WINDS AND HIGHEST SEAS WILL BE IN AND NEAR THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA. SW N ATLC... HURRICANE IGOR WAS LOCATED NEAR 28.3N 65.1W OR ABOUT 275 MI S OF BERMUDA AT 0200 AM AST WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 80 KT GUSTS 100 KT. IGOR WILL MOVE OVER OR VERY NEAR BERMUDA TONIGHT. EXPECT 24 OR MORE HOURS OF VERY ADVERSE CONDITIONS ON BERMUDA AS THE CYCLONE SLOWLY MOVES TOWARD AND OVER THE ISLAND. VERY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT COASTAL FLOODING ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST...WITH 6 TO 9 INCHES OF RAINFALL ALSO EXPECTED. MEANWHILE LARGE AND DANGEROUS SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO EFFECT THE SE U.S. COAST AND THE BAHAMAS WITH A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK...EVEN AFTER IGOR MOVES WELL N-NE OF THE AREA MON THROUGH WED. ATLC RIDGING WILL DEVELOP IN THE WAKE OF IGOR JUST N OF THE AREA WITH EASTERLY WINDS OF 15-20 KT ACROSS THE WATERS WED AND THU WHILE LARGE SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE DOWN INTO THE AREA FROM THE BACK SIDE OF IGOR THROUGH THE WEEK ALONG WITH FRESH EASTERLY WAVES. TROPICAL N ATLC AND CARIBBEAN SEA... SURFACE RIDGING CONTINUES TO NOSE IN ACROSS THE TROPICAL N ATLC FROM THE NE WHILE 15-20 KT SOUTHERLY WINDS REMAIN IN THE FAR N PORTION AROUND THE OUTER CIRCULATION OF HURRICANE IGOR NOW WELL N OF THE WATERS. RIDGING WILL EXPAND IN THE WAKE OF IGOR WITH EASTERLY TRADES BECOMING ESTABLISHED ACROSS THE REGION. EXPECT 15-20 KT E WINDS ACROSS THE N HALF AND 10-15 KT OVER THE S HALF BY LATE TUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. SEAS WILL BUILD TO 10-12 FT OVER THE N PORTION WITH AN EXPANDING EASTERLY FETCH DEVELOPING. IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA...THE MONSOON TROUGH IS OVER THE SW CARIBBEAN EXTENDING FROM NORTHERN COLOMBIA TO NEAR THE PANAMA /COSTA RICA BORDER. OTHERWISE A WEAK AND ILL-DEFINED PRESSURE PATTERN WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE MAJORITY OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA THROUGH MON. THEREAFTER ATLC RIDGING WILL EXPAND NE OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND EASTERLY TRADES WILL RETURN AND INCREASE ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN SEA. THE STRONGEST TRADES WILL BE ACROSS THE N HALF OF THE CENTRAL AND E CARIBBEAN SPREADING TO THE NW CARIBBEAN LATE WED AND THU. 20-25 KT WINDS WILL OCCUR IN THE LEE OF PUERTO RICO...HISPANIOLA...AND THE WINDWARD PASSAGE. WARNINGS... SW N ATLC... .HURRICANE WARNING N OF 25N E OF 70W. CARIBBEAN... .NONE. TROPICAL N ATLC... .NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... .NONE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE $$ FORECASTER LEWITSKY