000 AGXX40 KNHC 240757 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 357 AM EDT Wed May 24 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 stationary front over the Gulf near the Louisiana and Texas coasts is being swept up by a cold front as it enters the NW Gulf. Numerous showers and thunderstorms capable of producing gusty winds will continue this morning ahead of the cold front. The merging front will cross the western Gulf today and reach the northeast Gulf as a merged cold front tonight. The cold front will then cross Florida Thursday with the tail end of the front stalling out from the Florida Straits to the NE tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. The stalled front will then dissipate through Friday. Strong SW winds are developing east of the front over the northeastern gulf. As the stronger cold front merges with the stationary front, the convection along and east of the front will continue to lead the front as it heads east. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms will cross the eastern Gulf today and tonight. High pressure will build eastward over the Gulf Thursday and arrive over the eastern Gulf Friday into Saturday. Yet another cold front moving into Texas will set up a return flow scenario over the W Gulf by early next week. SE to S winds over the Gulf W of 90W could become fresh to locally strong on Monday. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... The E Pacific monsoon trough will continue to provide low-level forcing for showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Caribbean the next few days. A tropical wave is moving through the western Caribbean in the vicinity of 80W. The wave will continue to move west the next day or so, before losing its characteristics over central America later today or tonight. Another tropical wave over the southern Windward Islands will move into the SE Caribbean today and reach the W Caribbean on Friday. High pressure over the western Atlantic will support fresh to strong east to southeast winds over the south central Caribbean and the Gulf of Honduras tonight. The high will slide east today, as pressures lower in the vicinity of the monsoon trough over central and south America. This will cause the fresh to strong winds to expand in coverage northward and northwestward across the central Caribbean today through Friday. The high will be weakened by low pres passing to the N Friday night and Saturday, which will help to decrease the winds over the north central Caribbean. The high will strengthen on Sunday after the low passes, which will bring a return to the fresh to strong east winds over the Gulf of Honduras. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Satellite-derived wind data indicate strong winds have developed east of Florida N of 29N and W of 78W. Showers and thunderstorms are developing near 31N81W. The strong winds and convection will expand eastward to near 29N70W by tonight as seas build to near 8 ft. As the front crosses northern Florida tonight, model guidance suggests winds will increase to near gale force north of 29N, in the vicinity of a line of showers and thunderstorms that is expected to develop ahead of the front. Will make mention of higher winds and seas in the vicinity of this convection. The line of convection and trailing cold front will cross the waters just east of Florida early Thursday. Strong winds will precede the front N of 27N Thursday and Thursday night as it progresses eastward. Seas will peak near 14 ft at 31N75W on Thursday night. The front will reach from near 31N72W to 26N79W Friday before weakening as it drifts east across the northeast zones through Friday night. High pressure will build east across the region Friday through Saturday night, then merge with high pres over the Central Atlc Sunday. Ridging from the high will extend WSW to the Northern Bahamas through Tuesday. The ridge will generally maintain moderate to fresh E to SE winds S of 24N and light to moderate SE to S winds N of 24N during this time frame. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 McElroy. National Hurricane Center.