000 AGXX40 KNHC 040809 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 309 AM EST Thu Jan 4 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 reinforced by a surge of cold air from the southern plains is supporting 25-30 kt northerly winds along the coast of Mexico south of 22N west of 94W based on a scatterometer pass at 0322 UTC. Altimeter data at 0355 UTC showed 13-15 ft seas S of 22N in the Bay of Campeche. Fresh to strong northerly winds prevail over the rest of the basin. Winds will subside and slowly veer NE through Sat as high pres slides eastward over the eastern U.S. into 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 cold front extends across the NW Caribbean from east-central Cuba near 20N77W to 15N82W. A 1009 mb surface low is centered near the Panama Canal, and a trough extends N-NE from the low to the Windward Passage. A scatterometer pass at 0222 UTC revealed a small area of gale force winds associated with the low centered near 10N82W. A gale warning is now in effect for this location during the next 6-9 hours. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are occurring along the trough axis as well. The cold front will slow down then become stationary from Hispaniola to Panama by tonight into Fri. The stalled front will help funnel cold air southward east of central America through Sat night, helping seas to build to 9-13 ft in the waters adjacent to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northern Panama. Fresh to strong winds are expected SW of eastern Cuba today and tonight, and through the Windward Passage tonight into Sun night. The front will weaken into a trough by Sun and retreat westward. Strong winds over the western Caribbean will subside by Mon. A ridge building westward from the central Atlc will cause strong winds to develop north of Colombia and Venezuela Mon and Tue. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... An rapidly deepening storm-force low has moved north of forecast waters, and a trailing cold front from the low extends from 31N72W through the Bahamas to east-central Cuba. Scatterometer data shows a large area of 30-40 kt winds north of 27N between 70W and 80W. Gale conditions are likely over much of the area north of 29N today, with seas peaking around 19-20 ft later this morning. Altimeter data at 0300 UTC showed a large area of 12-16 ft seas associated with the low. 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 front 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 before the front dissipates. Seas are expected to remain above 8 ft outside the Bahamas until Tue. Fresh SE winds will develop over the NW waters Mon ahead of the next cold front expected to move off the U.S. mainland on Tuesday. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ029...W CENTRAL CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N W OF 80W... Gale Warning today. .AMZ039...SW CARIBBEAN S OF 11N INCLUDING APPROACHES TO PANAMA CANAL... Gale Warning today. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ111...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N W OF 77W... Gale Warning today. .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... Gale Warning today. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... Gale Warning today. $$ *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.