000 AGXX40 KNHC 241929 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1155 AM EST Sun Dec 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... A cold front reaches from near 30N85W to 26N90W then stationary to the southwest Gulf near 18N95W. Winds over the far western Gulf have diminished considerably over the past 12 hours, but seas to 8 ft linger off the coast of Veracruz, as noted in a 12 UTC altimeter satellite pass. The northern half of the cold front will drift east this afternoon, ahead of a reinforcing front currently moving into the Texas coast plains. The reinforcing front will move across the northern Gulf and merge with the previous front this evening. The merged front will reach from SW Florida to near Veracruz, Mexico by Mon morning, before stalling and weakening from the Straits of Florida to near Veracruz late Mon. The remnants of the front will lift northward as a warm front over the western Gulf Tue and Wed before stalling over the NW Gulf Thu. Guidance is showing the development of a weak frontal wave along the remnant boundary over the northwest Gulf. Fresh NE winds are forecast for primarily the Louisiana coastal waters, but the boundary may serve as a focus for showers and thunderstorms in some areas of the north central and northwest Gulf, along with patchy fog south of the boundary by Thu as it shifts north of the area. A weak cold front may emerge off the Texas coast Fri. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... High pressure north of the area will maintain fresh to strong trade winds across the central and southwest Caribbean through mid week, pulsing to minimal gale force tonight off Colombia. Fresh to locally strong NE winds are expected through the Windward Passage on Tue and Wed. Large E swell will build seas to 9 ft E of the Lesser Antilles along 55W beginning on Mon night, with these swells reaching the E Atlc passages on Tue evening and continuing through Thu evening. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Weak ridging along 30N will shift E ahead of a cold front moving off the NE Florida coast this evening, followed by fresh NW winds. The front will reach from 30N68W to the Straits of Florida by this evening, then stall and weaken from Bermuda to the South Florida early Tue. The remnants of the front will drift north through mid week. An active southern stream jet will support formation of a frontal wave along the remnant boundary off the Georgia coast. The gradient tightens as this feature forms as a trough off the NE Florida coast late Thu and as a ridge builds to the northeast. This will allow at least fresh easterly winds north of 28N and east of 75W late Thu into early Fri. Fresh to strong SW to W winds are possible Fri north of 28N and west of 75W Fri as low pressure develops north of the area. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning tonight. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.