000 AGXX40 KNHC 190702 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 302 AM EDT Wed Apr 19 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 ridge continues to dominate the Gulf waters producing mainly moderate to locally fresh easterly winds over the southeastern Gulf and the Straits of Florida, and gentle to moderate winds elsewhere, with seas generally under 4 ft. A ridge will remain in place across the Gulf region through Friday. A thermally induced trough will develop over the Yucatan Peninsula late each afternoon. This trough will shift into the southwest Gulf each evening where it will dissipate each morning. A surge of moderate to fresh NE winds will accompany this trough. Winds are expected to increase to 15-20 kt across the NW waters on Friday night ahead of a weak cold front forecast to enter the NW Gulf by Saturday evening. Fresh to strong northerly winds, in the 20-30 kt range, are expected behind the front, with seas building to 8 ft by Sunday morning. At that time, the front is forecast to extend from the western Florida Panhandle to near Tampico, Mexico. The front will reach from the Florida Big Bend to the Bay of Campeche by Sunday evening. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Latest scatterometer data depict an area of fresh to locally strong winds just south of Puerto Rico, as well as in the lee of central Cuba and off the northwest coast of Colombia. Gentle to moderate winds prevail over the remainder of Caribbean waters and the Tropical North Atlantic forecast zones. Seas are in the 6-7 ft range across the Caribbean waters E of 75W, reaching 8 ft across the Atlantic passages. Seas of 4-6 ft are over the remainder of the basin W of 75W. Large northerly swell generated by a deep low pressure system over the central Atlantic is reaching the northern Tropical North Atlantic waters, with seas of 8-10 ft. Seas will subside from north to south to 8-9 ft today, and are expected to subside below 8 ft by tonight. The large swell event will also continue to affect the Atlantic passages in the Leeward Islands and the Mona Passage today, with seas to 8 ft. Pulses of fresh to strong trade winds are possible through the Windward Passage, off Cabo Beata (southernmost point of Hispaniola) and off the cost of Colombia trough the next several days. Otherwise little change is expected. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A 1025 mb high pressure centered near 31N72W dominates the forecast waters. Latest scatterometer and surface data depict fresh to locally strong winds just north of Puerto Rico to about 21N, including the Mona Passage, and across the Straits of Florida. Gentle to moderate winds persist elsewhere. Recent buoy observations indicate 8 to 10 ft seas south of 24N east of the Bahamas and Turks/Caicos Islands in northerly swell. Seas are expected to subside below 8 ft across the SE waters later today. A cold front will move across the NE waters today and tonight, and across forecast zone AMZ121 on Thursday. Building high pressure in the wake of the front will bring fresh easterly winds across the waters between the Bahamas and Cuba by this evening with seas of 6-7 ft. Additional pulses of NE swell will reach the E and SE waters Friday night into Saturday, but seas will remain below 8 ft. Southerly winds will increase to 15-20 kt off northeast Florida by late Sunday ahead of a cold front approaching from the west. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 GR. National Hurricane Center.