000 AGXX40 KNHC 080746 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 246 AM EST Fri Dec 8 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 nearly stationary front reaches from Tampa Bay to broad low pressure in the central Gulf near 24N92W to the SW Gulf near 18N94W. Strong surface high pressure over the U.S. Southern Plains has driven strong to gale force winds across the NW Gulf, N Central Gulf, W Central Gulf and SW Gulf behind the front. A recent scatterometer pass showed winds just offshore of NE Mexico in excess of 40 kt. Large seas continue behind the front, up to 16 ft in the W Central Gulf. The low will drift ENE and dissipate through the morning, with the front sagging slightly southward across the NE Gulf. Reinforcing cold air will push the front to SW Florida through Yucatan Channel by Sat morning and SE through the Straits by late Sat afternoon. Models have been in pretty good agreement though Fri but the GFS model still looks a bit fast. Gale force winds will persist today, gradually diminishing from the N to the S tonight, persisting in the SW Gulf through Sat. Marine conditions will rapidly improve across the basin Sat night and Sun after the front exits. High pressure will move into the W Central Gulf early next week with light winds and seas 2 ft or less across the northern Gulf and 2 to 4 ft across the southern Gulf, increasing by Tue as a reinforcing cold front moves through along with stronger high pressure NW of the area. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Trade winds will remain fresh to strong in the central Caribbean today as Atlantic ridge remains centered on a high Near 29N58W. Seas are up to 7-10 ft in the central Caribbean where the strongest winds are, while NE swell of 8-9 ft continues to bleed through the ATLC passages. A strong cold front will reach the NW Caribbean late tonight, then push southward past Nicaragua to Costa Rica and northern Panama through early Mon. Strong northerly winds behind the front will be enhanced in the Yucatan Channel, possibly reaching minimal gale force. The front will extend from central Cuba to Honduras on Sat, from eastern Cuba to Nicaragua Sun, and from the Windward Passage to Costa Rica Mon where it will stall through Tue. Expect winds of 25-30 kt over the NW Caribbean Sat with seas building to 12-13 ft. By early Sun, the strongest winds to gale force are expected within 120 nm of the coast of Nicaragua, with seas building to 10-12 ft in this area. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A nearly stationary front is across the NW waters from 31N77W to just N of Daytona Beach, FL. High pressure prevails over the remainder of the area centered on a high near 29N58W. Scatterometer data shows fresh to locally strong easterly winds S of 22N to an old frontal boundary along about 15N and E of the Bahamas. Latest observations show 7-10 ft seas S of 26N, with 5-8 ft seas N of 26N. Winds and seas will diminish across the SE waters through Sat as the high pressure shifts slowly NE and swell begins to fade late Fri. The front will remain nearly stationary today and tonight, then reinforcing cold air will push the front SE into the Bahamas Sat. Southerly flow N of 27N ahead of the front will increase to fresh to near gale force Fri night through Sun, possibly reaching gale force N and along 31N. Otherwise, fresh to strong N winds are expected N of the frontal boundary this weekend. As stated above, have trended frontal position towards the slower models. Marine conditions will improve Sun afternoon through the early part of the week. A reinforcing cold front is expected to greatly impact the basin Tue with fresh to near gale force winds both ahead of and behind the front N of 27N by Tue night. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ011...NW GULF INCLUDING STETSON BANK... Gale Warning today. .GMZ013...N CENTRAL GULF INCLUDING FLOWER GARDEN BANKS MARINE SANCTUARY... Gale Warning today. .GMZ015...NE GULF N OF 25N E OF 87W... Gale Warning tonight into Sat. .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today into tonight. .GMZ019...CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N BETWEEN 87W AND 94W... Gale Warning early today into Sat. .GMZ021...E GULF FROM 22N TO 25N E OF 87W INCLUDING STRAITS OF FLORIDA... Gale Warning tonight into Sat. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today into Sat. .GMZ025...E BAY OF CAMPECHE INCLUDING CAMPECHE BANK... Gale Warning today into Sat. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ029...W CENTRAL CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N W OF 80W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sun into Mon. .AMZ039...SW CARIBBEAN S OF 11N INCLUDING APPROACHES TO PANAMA CANAL... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sun night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Lewitsky. National Hurricane Center.