000 AGXX40 KNHC 290755 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 255 AM EST Fri Dec 29 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 meandering stationary front from central Florida to 25N96W to near Veracruz Mexico will dissipate later today. Scatterometer data at 0250 UTC shows moderate to fresh NE winds north of the frontal boundary. Buoy observations and altimeter data indicate seas are generally 3-5 ft across the basin, except 6-7 ft west of 96W. A ridge of high pressure will build across the eastern Gulf tonight and Sat. Strong high pressure associated with arctic air over the central U.S. and a deepening mid-level trough over the eastern U.S. will push a strong cold front off the Texas coast Sun night. Model guidance remains in fairly good agreement in bringing minimal gale force winds to the waters near Tampico on Mon and the waters near Veracruz on Mon night. Winds over the western Gulf will slowly subside but remain strong through Thu morning due to a reinforcing shot of cold air arriving on Wed. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong trades over the central and SW Caribbean will diminish a bit today as the pressure gradient north of the area relaxes in response to low pres shifting eastward into the southeastern U.S. A narrow swath of strong winds can be expected within 60 nm of the NW coast of Colombia during the overnight hours through the weekend. An area of 8-9 ft seas across the tropical ATLC waters will subside from the NE today, becoming less than 8 ft by early Sat. Stronger trade winds in the central ATLC this weekend will generate easterly swell, expected to reach the Windward Islands by Mon morning, then remain in place through Thu as reinforcing strong trades develop across most of the central ATLC. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A stationary front extends along 29N between 65W and 78W. A weak low pressure area is analyzed east of Cape Canaveral near 28N79W. The low will deepen as it moves E-NE to near 31N69W this evening. Scatterometer data at 0250 UTC showed strong NE winds north of the front, and this is expected to persist over northern waters today as the low shifts eastward. Expect a brief SW-W-NW 20-25 kt wind shift across the waters N of 29N between 55W and 72W this afternoon into early Sat as a result. A strong cold front will move off NE Florida late Sun night, reach from 30N65W to southern Florida Mon night, and weaken from 24N65W to Straits of Florida Tue night. Strong northerly winds will spread southward NE of the Bahamas Mon and Tue, then diminish Tue night, generating 7-10 ft seas in N swell across the waters N of 27N through early Wed. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night into Tue. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Mundell. National Hurricane Center.