000 AGXX40 KNHC 200549 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 200 AM EDT SUN MAR 20 2011 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... HIGH PRES CENTERED OVER THE NE GULF WILL DISSIPATE LATER TODAY LEAVING A RIDGE FROM NW FLORIDA TO SE TEXAS. EASTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 15 KT WILL INCREASE TO 20 KT S OF THE RIDGE OVER THE FL STRAITS TODAY...WITH THESE CONDITIONS SPREADING W TO THE S CENTRAL GULF TONIGHT...AND OVER THE W WATERS AT SE 15 TO 20 KT LATE MON. THE GRADIENT WILL RELAX WED AFTERNOON AS WEAK HIGH PRES FORMS OVER THE E GULF THROUGH THU. SW N ATLC W OF 55W... COLD FRONT OVER THE FAR N PORTION OF THE AREA. THE FRONT WILL MOVE RAPIDLY E AND STRONG HIGH PRES WILL BUILD IN WAKE OF THE FRONT WITH NE WINDS AT 20-25 KT. SEAS WILL BUILD TO 12 FT EXCEPT 13 TO 15 FT OVER WATERS SE OF BERMUDA EARLY MON. THE GRADIENT WILL WEAKEN OVER THE NW PORTION OF THE AREA LATE MON WITH AN E TO W RIDGE SETTING UP ALONG 29N MON NIGHT THEN SHIFT S TO ALONG 27N TUE. WESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE N OF THE RIDGE TUE AS A SECOND DRY COLD FRONT MOVES RAPIDLY SE ACROSS THE E PORTION OF THE AREA WED AND THU. CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC W OF 55W... TIGHT PRES GRADIENT BETWEEN HIGH PRES TO THE N OF THE AREA AND LOW PRES OVER COLOMBIA IS PRODUCING MODERATE TO STRONG NE TRADES ACROSS MUCH OF THE CARIBBEAN...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS ALONG COAST OF COLOMBIA. THE GRADIENT WILL RELAX TUE NIGHT THROUGH THU. LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS IN THE TROPICAL ATLC WATERS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AS A COLD FRONT MOVES RAPIDLY INTO THE NW PORTION OF THE AREA THEN DISSIPATES WITH STRONG HIGH PRES BUILDING IN ITS WAKE RESULTING IN NE 20 TO 25 KT OVER THE N PORTION OF THE AREA. THE HIGH WEAKENS AND THE PRES GRADIENT RELAXES WITH DECREASING WINDS THU. WARNINGS.. ATLC... .NONE. CARIBBEAN... .NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... .NONE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE $$ FORECASTER DGS