000
AGXX40 KNHC 231855
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
300 PM EDT FRI SEP 23 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...
A WEAK PRES PATTERN WILL PREVAIL OVER THE GULF THROUGH THE 
FORECAST PERIOD WITH WINDS GENERALLY LESS THAN 15 KT AND SEAS 
LESS THAN 3 FT. A WEAK COLD FRONT OVER THE NW GULF WILL CONTINUE 
MOVING E ACROSS THE GULF...REACHING FROM THE BIG BEND AREA TO 
THE NW YUCATAN PENINSULA LATE TONIGHT WHERE IT WILL TALL AND 
DISSIPATE THROUGH SUN. THIS FRONT WILL RESULT IN A WIND 
SHIFT...BUT WILL ONLY BRING A SLIGHT INCREASE TO THE WINDS AND 
SEAS BEHIND IT. 

CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC W OF 55W...
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WAS CENTERED IN THE CENTRAL ATLC AT 14.6N 
52.6W AT 23/1500 UTC WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 35 KT GUSTS 
TO 45 KT. OPHELIA IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN TO A DEPRESSION BY SAT 
MORNING...AND FORECAST TO REMAIN A DEPRESSION AS IT MOVES 
THROUGH THE TROPICAL N ATLC WATERS. THUS...THE MENTION OF 
WARNINGS FOR THE TROPICAL N ATLC HAS BEEN DROPPED. THE CURRENT 
TRACK CONTINUES WITH OPHELIA PASSING NE OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS 
WITH ONLY MINOR EFFECTS ON THE CARIBBEAN WATERS...MOSTLY THE NE 
CORNER. 

SW N ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W...
SE TO S WINDS HAVE FRESHENED DUE TO A TIGHTER PRESSURE RESULTING 
FROM TROUGHING OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. THIS FRESH SE TO 
S FLOW IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. WINDS AND SEAS 
ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE LATE THIS WEEKEND OVER THE SE CORNER AS 
OPHELIA MOVES CLOSER TO THE AREA AS A DEPRESSION. OPHELIA IS 
FORECAST TO ENTER THE AREA LATE MON AND RE-INTENSIFY TO TROPICAL 
STORM STRENGTH WITH WINDS 35 KT GUSTING TO 45 KT LATE TUE.

WARNINGS...
GULF OF MEXICO...
.NONE.

CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC...
.NONE. 

SW N ATLC...
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED E OF 67W TUE...AMZ080.
          
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE

$$
FORECASTER AL