000 AGXX40 KNHC 170632 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 132 AM EST Sun Dec 17 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 warm front extending from low pressure over the NW Gulf to near 28N88W will lift north of the basin through this morning. A stationary front from 28N88W across southern Florida will dissipate today. A surface trough that extends south from the low will meander over the NW Gulf late this morning through early Sun night before drifting onshore from Louisiana to Texas to NE Mexico. The strong easterly winds to the north of the warm front over the NW gulf will exit the basin later this morning as the front lifts north. Mainly moderate to fresh SE winds and seas of 3 to 5 ft will prevail east of the surface trough through Sun night as high pressure becomes established just east of the Florida peninsula. Light winds can be expected W of the trough. Once the trough moves onshore, mainly moderate SE flow will dominate the Gulf basin through early next week. A weak cold front is forecast to reach the NW Gulf early Wed and cross the northern portion of the basin from west to east through early Thursday. Brief fresh winds can be expected with this front. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... High pressure to the N of the basin will remain sufficiently strong to support a tight pressure gradient over the central Caribbean through Tuesday, capable of producing nocturnal Gale force winds north of the NW coast of Colombia. Fresh to strong E to NE winds are expected elsewhere over the central Caribbean, including the Windward Passage through this time frame. The high pressure will weaken Tuesday through Wednesday which will diminish winds by about 3 to 5 kt over the central Caribbean, likely keeping winds just below gale force N of NW Colombia Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. The stronger winds early this week will be supporting seas to 15 ft during the mornings through Tuesday morning, with a large area of 8 to 12 ft extending across the central and SW Caribbean during that time. Elsewhere over the Caribbean, mainly moderate to locally fresh E to NE can be expected the next several days with generally dry conditions. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extending from 28N65W to the NW Bahamas will continue to progress east and will move E of 65W N of 23N through today. High pressure will build in the wake of the front today and will become centered just east of central Florida near 28N76W for Monday and Tuesday. This pattern will support gentle winds and seas of 3 to 5 ft N of 26N, with moderate to fresh NE winds S of 26N, with seas of 5 to 7 ft outside of the Bahamas. The high will weaken and shift SE Tuesday night, becoming centered east of the Bahamas near 25N70W for Wednesday and Thursday. This will allow for fairly benign marine conditions across the waters S of 31N and N of 23N during this time frame. The only exception will be the potential of a cold front to clip the waters N of 30N, which could increase winds later this week. S of 23N, the periphery of the high will support moderate to fresh NE to E winds Wednesday through Thursday. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today into Mon. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Latto. National Hurricane Center.