000 AGXX40 KNHC 081749 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1249 PM EST Wed Mar 8 2017 Marine Weather Discussion for the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Tropical North Atlantic from 07N to 19N between 55W and 64W and the Southwest North Atlantic including the Bahamas ...GULF OF MEXICO... A cold front reaching from the Big Bend area of Florida to south Texas is starting to stall over the northwest Gulf. Scattered thunderstorms are active along the front west of 90W. The western portion will lift north later today as the cold front continues to move eastward across the northeast Gulf. Meanwhile, a large area of thunderstorms is ongoing in the southwest Gulf off the coast of Veracruz, along a stationary trough. Over the southeast Gulf, a ship reported strong east winds just west of the Straits of Florida. The front will dissipate entirely across the Gulf through late Thursday as high pressure builds across the Deep South states and northern Gulf waters. This will support generally light to moderate winds and slight seas over the northern Gulf, and fresh east winds across the southern Gulf with moderate seas. The regular overnight trough off northwest Yucatan will support areas of fresh to strong winds in the Bay of Campeche each night through at least Saturday night. Another weak front is expected to move into the north central and northeast Gulf Friday night, and stall over the northeast Gulf Saturday before lifting north late Saturday. Looking ahead, a stronger cold front will move into the northwest and western Gulf Sunday, followed by strong northerly winds and building seas. There remains some uncertainty in the global models regarding the possibility of winds to at least near gale force off Tamaulipas and Veracruz late Sunday into Monday. The official forecast will keep strong to near gale winds over the western Gulf for now. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong high pressure north of the area is supporting 20 to 30 kt trade winds across most of the region east of 80W, with gales earlier off Colombia and south of Hispaniola. Seas are mostly 8 to 12 ft east of 80W except for near 14 ft in areas of gales. Strong northeast flow in the Windward Passage will diminish later today, but return again tonight and early Thursday. The gales of Colombia will pulse tonight and tomorrow night, but overall winds and seas will diminish from Friday through Sunday across the Caribbean and tropical north Atlantic waters west of 55W as the high pressure shifts farther east. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Strong Bermuda high pressure is supporting persistent fresh to strong winds south of 22N, including the approaches to the Windward Passage. Winds and seas will gradually diminish through Thursday night as a weak cold front moves off the northeast Florida coast tonight. The front will shift east and become diffuse through Friday as a weak trough develops over the southern Bahamas. Looking ahead, a slightly stronger cold front will move south of 31N Friday night and early Saturday, before stalling along 28N and lifting north again through late Saturday ahead of a low pressure system moving off the Carolina coast. The low pressure is expected to move eastward along 31N reaching 75W by late Sunday followed by strong northerly flow and building seas. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning tonight into Thu night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.nhc.noaa.gov/marine $$ .Forecaster Christensen. National Hurricane Center.