000 AGXX40 KNHC 311856 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 156 PM 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 nearly stationary front extends across the northern Gulf from Apalachicola Florida to weak 1017 mb low pressure centered near the Mouth of the Mississippi River, then continues as a cold front to Corpus Christi Texas. The low will exit NE Gulf waters by Monday morning. The strong cold front trailing the low will generate frequent gusts to gale force near the northern Gulf coast between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Mouth of the Rio Grande tonight, then will exit the SE Gulf on Tue morning. Minimal gales are forecast near Tampico Mon and Mon night and 30 to 40 kt gales near Veracruz Mon night and Tue morning. Model guidance remains in good agreement on the timing and duration of gale force winds over the waters near Tampico Mon night and over 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. N to NE winds over the Gulf will subside to moderate speeds by Fri morning. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... The latest satellite-derived wind data shows moderate to fresh winds prevailing across the basin. Altimetry and buoy readings show seas in the 4 to 6-foot range. Trades in this region will remain moderate to fresh through Monday night as the pressure gradient remains weak due to a cold front moving E from the United States mainland weakening the ridge to the N. Winds within 60 nm of the NW coast of Colombia will pulse to strong speeds tonight before the pressure gradient relaxes further. A cold front will enter the NW Caribbean on Tue. The front will gradually weaken as it approaches eastern Cuba and Nicaragua, but will be reinforced by more cold air from the NW as low pressure over the Bahamas deepens rapidly and pulls out quickly to the NE. Fresh to strong northerly winds will follow the front across the NW and SW waters Wed night through Fri night with seas building to 8 ft in waters adjacent to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northern Panama. Gap winds S of Cuba and channeling of winds between the stalling front and the terrain of central America will maintain strong winds and seas to 11 ft over the Windward Passage as well as the western Caribbean on Sat. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extends WSW from 31N74W to near St Augustine FL. The front is slowing down in response to low pressure currently centered over the northern Gulf near the Mouth of the Mississippi. Winds in this region are generally light to moderate and with seas running between 4 and 6 ft as weak ridging remains overhead. The cold front will blast southeastward on Mon and Mon night as the Gulf low pulls out to the NE. Strong to near gale- force northerly winds will spread southward over the northern Bahamas Tue through early Wed morning, then briefly diminish Wed afternoon. Models remain in good agreement in developing a large area of rapidly deepening low pressure near the northern Bahamas Wed evening and Thu morning, then lifting it out quickly to the NE. Gales could affect much of the waters N of 27N during this time frame as this system could become a large gale center. Seas near 31N and 65W could peak near 20 ft on Thu evening. 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. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning Mon into Mon night. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning Mon into Mon night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ111...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N W OF 77W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night. .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Thu. $$ *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 McElroy. National Hurricane Center.