000 AGXX40 KNHC 211722 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 130 PM EDT MON MAR 21 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... AN E TO W RIDGE WILL EXTEND ACROSS THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAINS WITH A WEAK HIGH PRES CENTER DEVELOPING ALONG THE RIDGE OVER THE NE GULF TUE. THE HIGH WILL SHIFT S TO FL BAY WITH A RIDGE EXTENDING NW TO LA TUE NIGHT INTO WED...WITH THE HIGH SHIFTING NW OVER THE CENTRAL GULF THU...THEN SHIFTING NE OF AREA FRI AND SAT. THE FAIRLY STRONG GRADIENT S OF THE RIDGE WILL SUPPORT ELY 15-2O KT WINDS ALONG THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE RIDGE THROUGH TUE. THE GRADIENT RELAXES TUE NIGHT THROUGH FRI...THEN INCREASES TO 15-20 KT FRI NIGHT AS WINDS BECOME SLY OVER THE W WATERS WITH THESE CONDITIONS SPREADING E ACROSS THE ENTIRE GULF SAT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT OFF TX SUN. SW N ATLC W OF 55W... THE E-W ORIENTATED COLD FRONT IS SLOWING ALONG 23N ATTM. HIGH PRES IN WAKE OF THE FRONT IS SUPPORTING NE WINDS AT 20-25 KT ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA...EXCEPT 25-30 KT SE OF BERMUDA TODAY. MAX SEAS AT 12 TO 16 FT JUST S OF BERMUDA...AND TO 11 FT ELSEWHERE NE OF THE BAHAMIAN CHAIN. THE GRADIENT WILL WEAKEN OVER THE NW PORTION TONIGHT AS A RIDGE BUILDS E-W ALONG 28N THEN SHIFTS S TO ALONG 25N BY THU. ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THE NE PORTION OF THE AREA TUE NIGHT AND WED WITH WINDS INCREASING TO MINIMAL GALE OVER WATERS N OF 30N WED LATE WED ALONG FRONT E OF 55W. A THIRD FRONT WILL FOLLOW ON FRI WITH GALE CONDITIONS REMAINING N OF 31N. A RIDGE WILL EXTEND FROM 31N72W TO 22N65W SAT. CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC W OF 55W... THE PRES GRADIENT BETWEEN HIGH PRES TO THE N OF THE AREA AND LOW PRES OVER COLOMBIA IS MAINTAIN MODERATE TO STRONG NE TRADES ACROSS MUCH OF THE CARIBBEAN...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS AS USUAL ALONG COAST OF COLOMBIA. THE GRADIENT WILL RELAX TUE NIGHT THROUGH THU. A COLD FRONT WILL WASH OUT ALONG 22N TONIGHT AND TUE AS STRONG HIGH PRES BUILDS IN ITS WAKE RESULTING IN NE 20 KT WINDS OVER THE N PORTION OF THE AREA. THE HIGH WEAKENS AND THE PRES GRADIENT RELAXES THU WITH DECREASING WINDS. A RIDGE WILL EXTEND E-W ALONG 23N FRI THEN SHIFT N SAT WITH ELY TRADES INCREASING AGAIN OVER THE S CENTRAL CARIBBEAN. WARNINGS.. ATLC... .NONE. GALE CONDS EXPECTED N OF 30N ALONG FRONT NEAR 30N53W LATE WED. CARIBBEAN... .NONE. GULF OF MEXICO... .NONE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE $$ FORECASTER NELSON