000 AGXX40 KNHC 030751 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 251 AM EST Wed Jan 3 2018 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... High pressure ridging southward along the Sierra Madre Oriental combined with a surface trough just offshore is producing near gale force winds, expected to increase to minimal gale later today. Fresh to strong NE winds prevail elsewhere across the basin. A reinforcing push of cold air will enter the western Gulf today, bringing gales to the usual favored locations near Tampico this morning and near Veracruz this afternoon. NE winds elsewhere will subside and become moderate Thu afternoon through Sat as high pres slides eastward over the eastern United States toward the western Atlc. Moderate to fresh SE return flow will set up over the Gulf Sun evening as the high moves further east. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A stationary front extends from western Cuba near 23N82W to 21N87W. Broad troughing extends NNE over the Caribbean from Panama to Haiti, anchored by a 1009 mb surface low. Fresh N-NE winds are observed W of the trough, on either side of the front. Model guidance indicates the front will stretch from central Cuba to eastern Honduras later today, then become stationary from Hispaniola to Panama Thu and Fri. The stationary front will help funnel cold air southward east of central America Thu through Sat night, building seas to 8-11 ft in the waters adjacent to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northern Panama. Fresh to strong winds are expected SW of eastern Cuba Thu and Thu night and through the Windward Passage Fri through Sat night. The front will weaken this weekend, and winds will subside into Sun night. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extends from 28N65W through the Bahamas to a surface low centered just south of Miami. Scatterometer data shows a band of 30-35 kt NE winds north of the front between 65W and 78W. Ship obs also indicate gale force winds are occurring in this area. The area of low pressure will develop as a wave along the front, and all forecast models indicate it will deepen rapidly and move quickly NE off the east coast of the U.S. Gale conditions are likely over much of the area north of 27N tonight through Thu night as the system becomes a large storm force low near 31N75w. Seas could peak near 20 ft in the northern waters Thu afternoon. Strong winds E of the Bahamas will subside Fri, but long period swell will maintain 8-13 ft seas east of the Bahamas until Sat. The cold front trailing the low will stall from 30N58W to Haiti Fri night through Sun. Strong high pres building N of the front will bring strong NE to E winds to the Bahamas Sun through Mon. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today into tonight. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ111...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N W OF 77W... Storm Warning today. Gale Warning tonight. .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... Storm Warning today into tonight. Gale Warning Thu. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... Gale Warning tonight into Thu. $$ *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 Mundell. National Hurricane Center.