000 AGXX40 KNHC 040736 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 336 AM EDT Thu May 4 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 large area of showers and thunderstorms are ongoing along the coast from Corpus Christi Texas to Mobile Bay Alabama, associated with a cold front currently moving off the Texas coast and into the far northwest Gulf. The front will sweep through the southeast Gulf by late Friday. Strong winds will follow the front into tonight, mainly over the western Gulf, with winds to minimal gale force off southern Tamaulipas this morning and off Veracruz later today. Frequent gusts to gale force are possible early this morning in the offshore waters off south Texas. Seas will reach 8 to 10 ft in the area of strongest winds today. Winds and seas will diminish through Friday night over most of the Gulf, and through Saturday over the northeast Gulf as high pressure builds over the western Gulf in the wake of the front. The high pressure will slide east through Sunday, allowing fresh east to southeast winds across the western Gulf through Monday. Stronger winds will develop briefly off the western coast of the Yucatan peninsula Sunday night and again Monday night. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A series of late season cold fronts is keeping the subtropical ridge north of the area relatively week and displaced eastward. This is resulting in only moderate trade winds and 3 to 5 ft seas across most of the Caribbean Sea through the weekend. Local drainage effects off Colombia will allow moderate to fresh trades mainly during the overnight and early morning hours. Long period NE swell will reach the tropical north Atlantic waters west of 55W by tonight and spread southward on Friday roughly across the area between 55W and 60W. Seas are forecast to build to 6-7 ft with this swell event during the upcoming weekend. A cold front moving across the Gulf of Mexico today and Friday will reach the Yucatan Channel by early Friday afternoon and extends from Matanzas Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras by early Saturday morning. Moderate northerly winds and seas of 4-5 ft are expected behind the front before stalling and dissipating late Saturday into Sunday. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Generally modest winds and seas are observed across the region with the weak ridging displaced east of the area. This will change through late today as southerly flow increases over the waters off northeast Florida ahead of an approaching cold front forecast to enter the area by early Friday morning. Strong westerly flow will follow the front north of 27N through Saturday with seas reaching 8 to 9 ft north of 30N. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will also likely accompany the front north of 28N. Winds and seas will diminish through Saturday as the front moves east. The front will eventually stall and weaken from roughly Bermuda to the Windward Passage into Monday. A weak pressure pattern into Tuesday will allow gentle to moderate breezes and slight seas overall. A weak reinforcing front may move south of 31N and east of 70W late Tuesday, then shift east of the area. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ011...NW GULF INCLUDING STETSON BANK... Gale Warning early today. .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.