000 AGXX40 KNHC 260608 MIMATS MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 208 AM EDT TUE APR 26 2016 MARINE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W...AND THE SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS. MODEL PREFERENCE: PREVIOUS OFFICIAL FORECAST BLENDED WITH LATEST GFS AND WW3. HIGH CONFIDENCE. A WEAK RIDGE IS ANALYZED ALONG THE GULF COAST NEAR 30N. ASCAT DATA SHOWS GENTLE E-SE WINDS OVER MOST OF THE BASIN EXCEPT FOR MODERATE E WINDS BETWEEN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND CUBA AND MODERATE SE WINDS IN THE WESTERN GULF N OF 22N W OF 94W. THE RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST ALONG 30N FOR SEVERAL DAYS THROUGH SAT. A SERIES OF WEAK TROUGHS MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO TEXAS AND NORTHERN MEXICO WILL ENHANCE THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IN THE WESTERN GULF TO MAINTAIN MODERATE TO FRESH SE WINDS W OF 90W THROUGH SAT. SEAS WILL GRADUALLY BUILD TO 6-8 FT IN THE NW GULF BY FRI. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... MODEL PREFERENCE: PREVIOUS OFFICIAL FORECAST BLENDED WITH LATEST GFS AND WW3. HIGH CONFIDENCE. A WEAK RIDGE N OF THE AREA AND BROAD LOW PRESSURE OVER NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA PREVAIL ACROSS THE REGION. SCATTEROMETER DATA SHOWS GENTLE TRADE WINDS OVER MOST OF THE BASIN EXCEPT FOR MODERATE E-NE WINDS THROUGH THE WINDWARD PASSAGE. EXPECT VERY LITTLE CHANGE TO THE CURRENT SYNOPTIC PATTERN THROUGH SAT. TRADE WINDS WILL BE GENTLE TO MODERATE ACROSS THE REGION AND BENIGN SEAS CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE SEVERAL MORE DAYS. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... MODEL PREFERENCE: PREVIOUS OFFICIAL FORECAST BLENDED WITH LATEST GFS AND WW3. HIGH CONFIDENCE. A DISSIPATING STATIONARY FRONT IS ANALYZED ACROSS THE GREATER ANTILLES ALONG 20N WITH WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY REPORTED NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE IS CENTERED N OF THE AREA NEAR 33N70W WITH A WEAK RIDGE EXTENDING W INTO NORTHERN FLORIDA. SCATTEROMETER DATA SHOWS GENTLE TO MODERATE NE WINDS E OF 75W AND LIGHT TO GENTLE E-SE WINDS W OF 75W. EXPECT A WEAK RIDGE TO PERSIST ACROSS NORTHERN WATERS ALONG 30N/31N SEVERAL MORE DAYS THROUGH FRI OR SAT. GFS MODEL GUIDANCE SHOWS A WEAK PERSISTENT TROUGH DEVELOPING N OF PUERTO RICO WED THAT REMAINS THROUGH FRI...WHICH WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS IN SOUTHERN WATERS. OTHERWISE LITTLE CHANGE EXPECTED THROUGH SAT. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT. $$ .WARNINGS...ANY CHANGES IMPACTING COASTAL NWS OFFICES WILL BE COORDINATED THROUGH AWIPS2 COLLABORATION OR BY TELEPHONE: .GULF OF MEXICO... NONE. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... NONE. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... NONE. $$ *FOR DETAILED ZONE DESCRIPTIONS PLEASE VISIT: HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/ABOUTTAFBPROD.SHTML#OWF NOTE: GRIDDED MARINE FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NATIONAL DIGITAL FORECAST DATABASE (NDFD) AT: HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/MARINE/GRIDS.PHP FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: HTTP://WWW.HURRICANE WARNINGS.GOV/MARINE $$ .FORECASTER MUNDELL. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.