000 AGXX40 KNHC 301814 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 214 PM EDT Sun Apr 30 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 is moving across the Gulf waters and extends from SE Louisiana to near Tampico Mexico. During the morning hours, Tampico reported northerly winds of 20 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Fresh to strong SE winds dominate the remainder of the Gulf ahead of the front. This system is forecast to reach from the western Florida Panhandle to the central Bay of Campeche tonight, and from the Florida Big Bend to the eastern Bay of Campeche on Monday. The front will lift north while dissipating on Tuesday. Strong winds follow the front, reaching minimal gale force off Tamaulipas based on a recent scatterometer pass. Winds are forecast to increase to 30-40 kt off Veracruz later today. A gale warning remains in effect for forecast zones GMZ017 and GMZ023 through this evening. A band of scattered to numerous showers with embedded thunderstorms is associated with the front. Winds and seas could be higher near the thunderstorms. Fresh southerly return flow will set-up again across the western Gulf by Wednesday, ahead of the next cold front forecast to enter the Gulf early Thursday. Gales are possible again behind the front and near the coastlines of Tamaulipas and Veracruz on Thursday. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A ridge located north of the area is supporting pulses of fresh to strong east to southeast winds near the Gulf of Honduras, easterly trade winds off Colombia and northwest Venezuela and a smaller area south of Cabo Beata in southern Dominican Republic. Latest scatterometer data confirmed the presence of these winds. Fresh trade winds and seas 6 to 8 ft are expected over the central Caribbean through late today along with fresh northeast winds into the Windward Passage. Winds and seas diminish across the region from Monday through the middle of next week as the high pressure weakens and shifts east, leaving mainly fresh trades off Colombia and gentle to moderate breezes elsewhere. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A ridge along 30N continues to support fresh to strong trade winds south of 25N west of 70W from the Turks and Caicos across the southern Bahamas to southeast Florida, with 5 to 8 ft seas in open waters. Elsewhere moderate to fresh southeast winds are noted with 3 to 5 ft seas. This pattern will persist into Monday. Southeast to south return flow will increase off the coast of northeast Florida through late Monday as a weakening cold front approaches the area from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The front will stall along the Florida coast by early Tuesday then become diffuse. Winds and seas diminish late Tuesday through mid week as weak high pressure builds west along roughly 28N. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Thu. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Thu into Thu night. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 GR. National Hurricane Center.