000 AGXX40 KNHC 280638 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 135 AM EST TUE FEB 28 2012 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... WITH HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE GULF WATERS...LATEST ASCAT PASS ALONG WITH SHIP AND BUOY DATA INDICATE LIGHT TO MODERATE ANTICYCLONIC FLOW PREVAILS. THIS AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL THROUGH FRI BEFORE SHIFTING EASTWARD. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE NW GULF WATERS WEDNESDAY...BUT WITH HIGH PRESSURE REMAINING FIRMLY ACROSS THE AREA...THE FRONT WILL NOT REACH THE GULF WATERS. WITH THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTING EASTWARD FRIDAY...THIS WILL ENABLE A COLD FRONT TO MOVE OFF THE TEXAS COAST INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO LATE FRI NIGHT. CURRENTLY...THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO REACH FROM NEAR THE FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION TO TAMPICO MEXICO SAT NIGHT. GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF GALE FORCE WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT S OF 25N SAT. SW N ATLC S OF 31N W OF 65W... THE STATIONARY FRONT OVER THE AREA HAS DISSIPATED AND HIGH PRESSURE NOW PREVAILS ACROSS THE AREA. LATEST ASCAT PASS ALONG WITH SHIP AND BUOY DATA INDICATE FRESH TRADEWINDS OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE AREA WITH MODERATE TRADEWINDS OVER THE N PART OF THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN IN CONTROL OVER THE AREA THROUGH FRI. THE RIDGE WILL START TO RETREAT EASTWARD LATE FRI ENABLING A COLD FRONT TO SHIFT OFF THE SE COAST OF THE US ON SAT NIGHT AND REACH ACROSS THE FAR NW PART OF THE AREA BY SUN MORNING. FRESH TO STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PREVAIL OVER THE NW PART OF THE AREA FRI NIGHT AND SAT AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WITH FRESH TO STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC... LATEST SATELLITE DERIVED SURFACE WINDS ALONG WITH SHIP DATA INDICATE FRESH TO STRING TRADEWINDS CONTINUE ACROSS THE TROPICAL N ATLC AND THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN SECTION OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA. RECENT ASCAT PASS CONFIRMS CONTINUED GALE FORCE WINDS OFF THE COAST OF COLOMBIA. WITH HIGH PRESSURE REMAINING IN CONTROL N OF THE AREA THROUGH THE WEEK...THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHANGE EXPECTED IN THE CONDITIONS FOR THE WEEK. CURRENTLY CARRYING GALE FORCE WINDS IN THE FORECAST OFF THE COAST OF COLOMBIA THROUGH AT LEAST THU. WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN THE PATTERN IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THE GALE FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE AT THROUGH SAT. WARNINGS... GULF OF MEXICO... .NONE. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC... .AMZ084 AND AMZ086...GALE WARNING FROM 11N TO 13N BETWEEN 74W AND 76W. .SW N ATLC... .NONE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE $$ FORECASTER AL