000 AGXX40 KNHC 241630 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1230 PM EDT Thu Aug 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... Tropical Storm Harvey was near 24.0N 93.3W at 24/1500 UTC, moving NORTH-northwest, or 340 degrees, at 9 kt. Estimated minimum sea level pressure is 982 mb. Maximum sustained winds are 55 kt gusting to 65 kt. Harvey is forecast to intensify to hurricane strength this evening, moving inland over southern Texas late Friday night. See hurricanes.gov for the latest information on Harvey. Farther east, weak low pres in the southeast Gulf will linger over the area through this evening, before moving northeast across central Florida. This low pressure will have minimal impact on winds and seas, but may serve as a focus for scattered showers and thunderstorms over the far southeast Gulf. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Recent scatterometer data along with ship and buoy data indicate moderate to fresh winds over the central Caribbean, gentle to moderate over the eastern Caribbean, and light to gentle winds over the western Caribbean as well as the forecast zones in the tropical north Atlantic waters. Seas are in the 4-6 ft range over the central Caribbean, 2-4 ft over the eastern Caribbean, 2-3 ft over the western Caribbean, and 3-4 ft over the tropical north Atlantic waters. High pressure building north of the area will tighten the pressure gradient between the ridge and climatological low pressure over Colombia. This will help pulsing of locally strong winds off the coast of northwest Venezuela and northeast Colombia the next several days. Little change is expected elsewhere through the next several days. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A surface ridge extends over the northern waters. Recent scatterometer data along with ship and buoy data indicate light to gentle winds prevail over the area. Seas are in the 3-4 ft range outside the Bahamas, and 1-2 ft west of the Bahamas. The subtropical ridge will remain over the northern waters into Fri with little change in winds or seas. The main forecast issue continues to be the emergence of weak low pressure off the coast of northeast Florida toward the end of the week into the weekend. Currently, the low looks to deepen north of the forecast waters, which will keep the main marine impacts north of the discussion area. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ011...NW GULF INCLUDING STETSON BANK... Hurricane Warning tonight into Fri night. Tropical Storm Warning Sat. .GMZ013...N CENTRAL GULF INCLUDING FLOWER GARDEN BANKS MARINE SANCTUARY... Tropical Storm Warning tonight. .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Hurricane Warning today into Fri. .GMZ019...CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N BETWEEN 87W AND 94W... Hurricane Warning today into tonight. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 AL. National Hurricane Center.