000 AGXX40 KNHC 031718 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 118 PM EDT Mon Apr 3 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 was analyzed in the NW and W Gulf reaching from S central Louisiana to near Tampico, Mexico, with a leading squall line and surface trough approximately 90 nm ahead of the front. Very intense lightning was occurring from the Louisiana coastal waters northward over land. A 1004 mb surface low was in the SW Gulf near 21N96W. Recent observations indicated moderate to fresh southerly flow in the E Gulf, fresh to strong in the central Gulf, and mainly moderate to fresh northerly flow behind the front. Seas were 4-6 ft in the E Gulf, 6-10 ft in the central Gulf, and 4-6 ft behind the front. Model guidance continues to indicate winds approaching gale force offshore of Veracruz, Mexico this afternoon with the surface low lingering and merging with the tail end of the front by then. Otherwise, winds and seas will diminish through tonight across the basin as the front weakens and stalls over the central Gulf, then will lift N as high pressure builds. Southerly flow will increase again by late Tuesday ahead of another, stronger cold front emerging off the Texas coast by early Wednesday. Strong northerly winds will follow the front, pulsing to near gale force off Veracruz Thursday afternoon with seas to 9 ft. Winds and seas will gradually diminish through Saturday as the front shifts east of the area and high pressure builds into the lower Mississippi Valley. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... High pressure over the central subtropical Atlantic will support moderate to fresh trades over most of the Caribbean except fresh to strong trades over the Gulf of Honduras through Wednesday night, and strong to near gale force in the S central Caribbean through the end of the week. Seas will peak near 10-13 ft NW of the Colombia coast at night, when the strongest winds are forecast to occur. Large northerly swell of 7 to 9 ft spreading over the tropical Atlantic waters will continue through tonight before the swell decays to less than 8 ft. Additional northerly swell of 7 to 8 ft may arrive by the end of the week. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... The trailing end of a cold front extending along 24N will shift east of the area through the afternoon. Northwesterly swell on the periphery of a well developed low pressure area in the north Atlantic will propagate across the waters north of 27N and east of 70W through tonight. Southerly winds will increase off northeast Florida tonight through Tuesday ahead of an approaching cold front. The front will lift by just north of the area before entering the waters off northeast Florida, leaving a ridge in place along roughly 28N. This pattern will repeat by late Wednesday ahead of a stronger cold front expected to move off the Florida coast Thursday, followed by strong northwest winds mainly N of 29N, and seas of 8-11 ft. The front will sweep eastward reaching from near Bermuda to the Windward passage by late Friday night. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.nhc.noaa.gov/marine $$ .Forecaster Lewitsky. National Hurricane Center.