000 AGXX40 KNHC 310730 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 230 AM EST Sun Dec 31 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 extends from the Florida Panhandle, across SE Louisiana to a weak 1019 mb low pressure centered near 29N92W to the coast of Texas near 29N95W. A surface trough is ahead of the front extending from the low to near 22N95W. Warm air being advected by the center of low pressure continue to support dense fog within 90 nm off the coast of Texas. This fog will shift to the north-central and NE Gulf waters as the low moves in that direction through Monday morning before dissipating. By Monday morning, the front will extend from Sarasota, Florida SW to Tampico, Mexico with frequent gusts to gale-force winds behind it due to strong high pressure building across the central United States and eastern Mexico. Model guidance remains in fairly good agreement in bringing minimal gale force winds to the waters near Tampico Mon night and the waters near Veracruz Mon night and Tue. Winds over the western Gulf will slowly subside but remain strong until 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... Latest scatterometer data show fresh winds across the south- central and SE Caribbean waters while moderate trades prevail elsewhere. Trades in this region are forecast to remain fresh through Monday night due to a weak pressure gradient in the SW N Atlc waters. However, pulses of strong winds are expected within 60 nm off the NW coast of Colombia during the night hours. Winds over the remainder Caribbean will generally remain moderate until a strong cold front enters the basin Wed afternoon. Fresh to strong northerly winds will follow the front across the NW and SW waters through Friday night with seas building to 8 ft over Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northern Panama adjacent waters. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extends WSW from 30N35W to 30N39W, continues as a nearly stationary front to 30N48W, then transition to a warm front to low pres 1013 mb centered near 32N60W. A cold front continues SW from the low to near 27N70W. Moderate to fresh S to SW winds are blowing between the low and 27N between 43W and 59W. Winds and seas in this region will subside gradually through Sun night as the low and front pull out to the NE. A strong cold front will move off NE Florida coast Mon morning, then reach from 30N71W to southern Florida by late Mon night. Strong to near gale-force northerly winds will spread southward over the northern Bahamas Tue through early Wed morning, then diminish Wed afternoon. Models remain in good agreement in developing a large area of deepening low pressure over the Bahamas Wed evening and Thu morning, then lifting it out to the NNE. Gales are quite possible over the waters W of 65W. Strong winds east of the Bahamas will subside on Fri, but long period swell will maintain seas between 8 and 13 ft east of the Bahamas until Fri night. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning Mon into Mon night. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning Mon into Mon night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Thu. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Thu. $$ *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 Ramos. National Hurricane Center.