000 AGXX40 KNHC 030636 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 236 AM EDT Thu Aug 3 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 surface trough extending across the northeast Gulf will move to near the coast today while weakening. Moderate to fresh south to southwest winds and scattered thunderstorms are over the northeast Gulf associated with this feature. Although the trough is forecast to weaken, upper level troughing to the north of the region will continue to support enhanced shower and thunderstorm activity over the northeastern Gulf through Saturday. Elsewhere, high pressure extends from the central Atlantic, across central Florida, to the west central Gulf supporting mainly moderate east to southeast winds over the southern and western Gulf, and gentle winds over the central and east-central Gulf with seas of 2 to 4 ft. A diurnal trough will develop over the Yucatan Peninsula each evening, move W during the overnight hours dissipating over the SW Gulf each morning. Winds associated with this trough may increase to 20 kt during the overnight hours with seas briefly reaching 5 to 6 ft. This pattern will remain in place through the upcoming weekend. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A strong tropical wave just passed through the Lesser Antilles earlier tonight and is now tracking across the eastern Caribbean producing scattered showers and thunderstorms and gusty winds north of 15N including the Virgin islands and Puerto Rico. Fresh trades and building seas associated with the wave are spreading from the tropical Atlantic into the northeast Caribbean, with seas to 9 ft in the Atlantic passages. Strong winds will push into the Windward Passage now through Friday ahead of the wave axis. Persistent high pressure north of the region will support fresh to occasionally strong trade winds over most of the central Caribbean the next several days. Winds near 25 kt in the Gulf of Honduras this morning will diminish later this morning. The ridge to the north of the region will retreat eastward early next week which should help to decrease trades temporarily over the central and eastern portion of the basin. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... An upper trough over the United States will support scattered showers and thunderstorms over the northern waters west of 70W through Friday. A ridge building across the region will allow strong winds to pulse off Hispaniola and approaches to the Windward Passage into Friday, with strongest winds occurring during the afternoon and evening with seas occasionally reaching 7 to 8 ft. Winds and seas will diminish over the southern waters this weekend as a high pressure center becomes established over the northern waters. This high will support mainly gentle to moderate winds over the waters north of about 24N, and moderate to locally fresh winds south of 24N, with seas 6 ft or less. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Latto. National Hurricane Center.