000 AGXX40 KNHC 281806 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 206 PM EDT Fri Apr 28 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... weak ridging extends W from the Atlantic over the gulf along roughly 28N. A surface trough heads SSE from Texas along the Tamaulipas and Veracruz coast of Mexico to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Moderate to fresh SE winds are being steered around the ridge over the entire Gulf, except for the NW Gulf, where satellite-derived wind data and buoy observations indicate fresh to strong return flow from the SE has developed with seas building to between 5 and 7 ft. SE to S flow will continue to increase over much of the central and western Gulf through tonight, between the ridging extending W from the Atlantic, and the low pressure trough over Texas and eastern Mexico. The low pressure trough will continue to sharpen Saturday, supporting strong SE to S winds across the Gulf. Seas will build to between 8 to 13 ft with highest seas expected over the NW Gulf. A cold front will move off the Texas coast early Sunday, bringing the possibility of winds to minimal gale force to the Mexican coast near Tampico and Veracruz Sunday night. The front will move slowly east and weaken. Winds and seas will diminish through Monday night. The front will eventually dissipate on Tuesday as it nears the area from the Big Bend of Florida to east central Mexico. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... The latest satellite-derived winds indicated fresh SE winds pulsing northward from the coast of Honduras to Belize and strong winds pulsing along the north coast of Colombia. Moderate to fresh E to SE winds are noted elsewhere. These pulses will grow in strength and areal extent through Saturday as the gradient tightens between stronger ridging over the western Atlantic and troughing over the Gulf of Mexico. By Saturday afternoon, the building ridge to the north will support strong winds in the Windward Passage and south of Hispaniola near Cabo Beata. Fresh trade winds and building seas will generally prevail across the remainder of the region. Low pressure moving eastward into the Western Atlantic will weaken the ridge to the north and allow winds and seas to subside on Monday and Tuesday. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Ridging will linger along roughly 28N through Sunday. This will support gentle to moderate breezes north of 24N, with moderate to fresh trade winds farther south. Winds will increase to fresh to strong at night near the approaches to the Windward Passage tonight through Monday night. SE to S return flow will increase east of Florida north of 27N and west of 75W by late Monday as a weakening cold front approaches the area from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Looking ahead, the gradient will relax again on Tuesday and Wednesday as the high to the north weakens and the front dissipates. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sun. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sun into Sun night. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 McElroy. National Hurricane Center.