000 AGXX40 KNHC 050720 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 320 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 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 strong cold front approaching the coast of Texas will move into the northwest Gulf later this morning. Strong northerly winds and building seas will follow the front as it sweeps through the southeast Gulf through late Thursday, with near gale force winds off Veracruz late tonight into early Thursday. Seas will briefly reach 8 ft today and tonight behind the front, and up to 9 ft off Veracruz. Winds and seas will subside through Friday as high pressure builds behind the front over the Deep South states. A weak pressure pattern will maintain gentle breezes and slight seas from late Friday through Saturday over most of the Gulf. Moderate to fresh southeast return flow will set up over the far northwest Gulf Sunday ahead of the next low pressure system advancing into the southern Plains. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong high pressure northeast of the area will maintain fresh to strong trade winds over the south central Caribbean, with near gale force off Colombia through Thursday night with seas to 12 ft. In addition, strong winds will pulse in the Gulf of Honduras into early Thursday morning. The pattern will change going into Friday as the high pressure weakens and shifts east ahead of an advancing cold front moving through the Gulf of Mexico. The front will push into the far northwest Caribbean late Thursday, then stall and weaken from the Windward Passage to the Gulf of Honduras Saturday. The areal extent of the strong trade winds will diminish Friday through Sunday, but strong winds will continue to pulse of Colombia, mainly at night. Meanwhile, northerly swell to 8 ft will propagate into the waters east of the Leeward and Windward Islands Thursday into Friday, before decaying below 8 ft by late Friday. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A ridge extending east to west along roughly 27N maintaining generally light to moderate breezes across the region. Buoy observations and altimeter data indicate northerly swell to 9 ft continues to propagate southward across the discussion area east of 68W. Southerly winds will increase off northeast Florida tonight ahead of a strong cold front approaching the area from the west. Winds will reaching near gale force, with a larger area of gale force winds farther north off the Georgia and Carolina coasts. Seas will reach 8 to 12 ft off northeast Florida in this area of strong winds, along with scattered showers and thunderstorms. The front will reach from near Bermuda to eastern Cuba Friday, followed by strong westerly winds north of 29N. By early Saturday the front will reach from 31N65W to the Windward Passage. The main supporting upper dynamics for the front will be lifting farther north of the area leaving the front to stall and weaken and allowing winds and seas to diminish through Saturday. The front will stall and become diffuse from 25N65W to central Hispaniola by early Sunday. High pressure building behind the front will maintain gentle breezes across the basin Sunday. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Christensen. National Hurricane Center.