000 AGXX40 KNHC 201859 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 159 PM EST Wed Dec 20 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 cold front reaches from south central Louisiana to near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Fog over the northwest Gulf has largely dissipate, except in some near shore areas. The front will lift north as a warm front later today, ahead of a weak southern stream disturbance moving through the mid Mississippi Valley. Broad S to SW flow will persist across the Gulf through into Fri, except for moderate to fresh SW winds over the north central and northeast Gulf tonight. A more substantial trough currently over the Pacific Northwest will dig across the Rockies Fri into Sat, with an associated cold front entering the NW Gulf late Fri night into early Sat. Strong winds will follow the front along the coast of Mexico over the western Gulf. A reinforcing push of cold air will follow late Sat into Sun as the front reaches from the NE Gulf to the SW Gulf. The main issue in the longer term forecast in the longer term forecast for late Sun into Mon will the potential for gale force winds off the coast of Veracruz. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... High pressure N of the region will continue to maintain strong trade winds over the central and southwest Caribbean, with near gale force winds along the coast of Colombia each night this week. Fresh to strong NE to E winds are expected through the Windward Passage through tonight as well. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extending along 28N will shift E of the area through tonight, ahead of low pressure moving off the Carolina coast. The low pressure will move eastward and drag an associated cold front and accompanying strong SW winds across the waters N of 27N Fri and Sat. The latest GFS guidance is showing the possibility of winds pulsing briefly to gale force on the southeast side of the low pressure early Thu along the border of the discussion area, near 31N67W at 18Z to precise. The main area of gale force winds will likely remain north of the discussion area, and the current forecast holds winds to just below gale force at this time. A gale warning may be necessary if later model trends show the low pressure deepening or shifting more southward through time. Reinforcing high pressure will build N of the area behind the front Sat, allowing fresh to strong NE winds to develop near approaches to the Windward Passage. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sun night into Mon. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Christensen. National Hurricane Center.