000
AGXX40 KNHC 270810
MIMATS

MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
310 AM EST WED FEB 27 2013

UPDATED GULF OF MEXICO

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
STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING SE TEXAS COAST EXPECTED TO MOVE 
QUICKLY ACROSS GULF TONIGHT REACHING EASTERN ZONES THU AND  
MERGING WITH STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS YUCATAN PASSAGE LATE THU. 
MODERATE TO FRESH NORTHERLY BREEZE BEHIND COLD FRONT TO COVER 
THE ENTIRE BASIN THU.  HEALTHY HIGH PRES CENTER 1025 MB BUILD 
BEHIND COLD FRONT BRINGING WITH VERY COLD...PERHAPS THE COLDEST 
OF THE YEAR...AIR MASS AND INCREASING WINDS TO A STRONG BREEZE 
AND POSSIBLY NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS ACROSS ALMOST ENTIRE BASIN BY 
SAT.  SEAS EXPECTED TO REACH 10-11 FT BY LATE SAT MAINLY IN 
CENTRAL AND EASTERN ZONES S OF 26N.  

MODEL GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT ALBEIT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOW BIAS 
OF SEA HEIGHTS ON UKMET. FORECAST FOLLOWS CLOSER TO NWW3 HEIGHTS.
BY SUN ANOTHER COLD FRONT APPROACHES SE TEXAS COAST FORCING HIGH 
PRES TO MOVE SE PUSHING STRONG WINDS OUT OF GULF AND INTO 
CARIBBEAN SEA. 

CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC S OF 22N W OF 55W... 
WEAK STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS YUCATAN PASSAGE PRODUCING FRESH SE 
TO S BREEZE OVER NW CARIBBEAN THROUGH THU WHEN STRONG COLD FRONT 
CATCHES UP WITH IT...MERGE AND PUSH IT EASTWARD SAT.  STRONG N 
BREEZE ENCROACHES INTO NW ZONES THROUGH REMAINDER OF FORECAST 
PERIOD AND BEYOND.  

ELSEWHERE...RIDGE OVER SW N ATLC TIGHTEN PRES GRADIENT AND 
FORCES FRESH TO STRONG TRADES ACROSS EASTERN AND CENTRAL 
CARIBBEAN...STRONGER ALONG COAST OF COLOMBIA WHERE PERSISTENT 
STATIONARY LOW PRES 1006 MB REMAINS WELL ANCHORED.  AREA OF 
TRADES SHRINKS AND WINDS WEAKEN AS RIDGE IS FORCED EASTWARD THU 
AND FRI BY APPROACHING COLD FRONT.  WINDS DIMINISH TO A GENTLE 
TO MODERATE EASTERLY BREEZE BY SAT E OF 80W.    

LARGE LONG-PERIOD NE SWELLS AFFECTING TROPICAL N ATLC AND NE 
CARIBBEAN RAISING SEAS TO 7-8 FT IS EXPECTED TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT 
AND CONTINUE E OF 60W.
  
SW N ATLC S OF 31N W OF 55W...
STRONG S TO SW WINDS AHEAD OF COLD FRONT CURRENTLY ENTERING SW N 
ATLC THIS MORNING EXTEND TO 70WW N OF 28N.  WINDS PROPAGATE E 
AND STRONG AND COLD NW WINDS AND SEAS TO 10 FT FOLLOW BEHIND 
FRONTAL BOUNDARY.  BY FRI...WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED TO A MODERATE 
BREEZE ONLY TO COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE SAT WITH STRONGER... 
EVEN NEAR GALE FORCE NW WINDS...BEYOND FORECAST PERIOD.  FRONT 
REACHES FROM 31N74W TO S FLORIDA EARLY WED AND FROM BERMUDA TO 
WESTERN CUBA EARLY THU. FRONT EXPECTED TO STALL OVER SE ATLC 
WATERS LATE SAT. 

NOTE...GRIDDED MARINE FORECAST IS AVAILABLE AT 
WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/TAFB/GRIDDED_MARINE

WARNINGS...

GULF OF MEXICO...
.NONE. 

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

SW N ATLC...
.NONE.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE

$$
FORECASTER WALLY BARNES