000 AGXX40 KNHC 090634 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 134 AM EST Thu Mar 9 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 stationary front extends from just north of the Tampa Bay area to the southern Texas coast. This front is in the process of becoming diffuse and should dissipate later today as high pressure north of the area dominates the weather. Fresh to strong northeast to east winds were blowing northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula. A similar surge around the Yucatan peninsula is expected during the overnight hours through Saturday night. Otherwise, moderate to locally fresh east to southeast flow will prevail. Seas will be 2-4 ft in the northern Gulf, 3-5 ft in the central Gulf, and 4-6 ft in the southern Gulf. A weak cold front will clip the northeast Gulf Friday afternoon and night. A stronger cold front will move into the northwest Gulf Sunday morning, weakening as it progresses across the basin through Monday. A reinforcing front with building high pressure behind it will move through Monday night through Tuesday. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong high pressure north of the area is supporting gale force winds northwest of the coast of Colombia, with fresh to strong trades elsewhere east of 80W, and moderate to fresh winds west of 80W. Seas are up to 12-16 ft across the area of gales, 7-11 ft across the area of fresh to strong winds except 8-12 ft in the tropical north Atlantic, and 4-7 ft west of 80W. The gales of Colombia will pulse one more time tonight into early Friday, 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. Quite tranquil boating conditions are expected basin-wide for the end of the weekend into next week. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Strong Bermuda high pressure is supporting persistent fresh to strong winds south of 23N, including the approaches to the Windward Passage. Winds and seas will gradually diminish through tonight as a weak cold front currently entering the far northwest portion from the northeast Florida coast shifts east and becomes diffuse through Friday as a weak trough develops over the southern Bahamas. A slightly stronger cold front will move south of 31N Friday night through Saturday, reaching along 27N by Saturday evening while becoming diffuse. Model guidance indicates low pressure developing over the southeast United States late Saturday night into early Sunday. This low may drag the next cold front across the basin Sunday afternoon through Monday, although uncertainty with regard to the exact timing and strength of the low and front are present. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today. Gale Warning tonight. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Lewitsky. National Hurricane Center.