000 AGXX40 KNHC 221837 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 137 PM EST Fri Dec 22 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... Gentle to moderate southerly return flow across the western Gulf will increase today as low pressure moves into the Mississippi Valley. A trailing cold front will enter the northwest Gulf early Sat, followed by strong northerly winds. The main forecast challenge continues to be the potential for winds to gale force off Tampico late Sat morning. Operational guidance remains mixed, with ensemble guidance showing a low chance. The official forecast is still for near gale conditions off Tampico late Sat morning, but this will have to be monitored carefully. The front and accompanying winds diminish through Sat night, ahead of a reinforcing cold front entering the NW Gulf on Sun. Another round of strong northerly winds and building seas will follow the second front across the northern and western Gulf until it merges with the first front. Winds and seas will diminish early next week as the merged front stalls across the far southeast Gulf. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... High pressure north of the region will maintain strong trades over the central and southwest Caribbean, with near gale force nocturnal winds near the coast of Colombia each night into next week. Fresh to strong NE winds are expected through the Windward Passage as well. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extending along 26N will drift south and rapidly weaken during the next 24 hours as high pressure builds north of the region. This will allow fresh to strong NE winds near the approaches to the Windward Passage tonight. Another cold front will move off NE Florida Sun, and stall from near Bermuda to central Cuba by Tue. Fresh to strong NW winds will follow the front early Mon, with seas approaching 8 ft. Winds and seas will diminish north of 22N through Tue as the front stalls and weakens and as high pressure builds N of the area. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Christensen. National Hurricane Center.