000 AGXX40 KNHC 080703 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 203 AM EST Mon Jan 8 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... Ridging dominates the basin early this morning extending from high pres near the North Carolina Outer Banks, while a low pres system is approaching from the NW. Mainly fresh to locally strong return flow covers the basin along with 4-7 ft seas, except 6-9 ft in the central Gulf where the winds are the strongest. The low pres system will move into southern Louisiana later this morning, dragging a cold front into the NW Gulf with fresh to strong NW flow behind it. A band of deep convection may develop on the SE side of the low, impacting the Louisiana and NE Gulf coastal waters where winds and seas may gust to gale force occasionally. The low and front will weaken as they sink SE-S into the Gulf near 29N88.5W by this evening, then to 27N87W by Tue morning when associated winds and seas will diminish and subside. The low will meander in the S central Gulf through Wed, becoming a remnant trough just N of the Yucatan Peninsula Wed night. High pres builds back in from the Carolinas by early Thu with moderate to fresh return flow dominating. A strong cold front may approach Thu morning, entering the NW Gulf by Thu evening, quickly sweeping across the basin by Fri night. Fresh to strong NW-N winds will follow the front, with minimal gale force winds not out of the question for the western Gulf Thu night through Fri. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A dissipating stationary front extends from near the Windward Passage to western Jamaica to offshore of Nicaragua. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are occurring either side of the boundary. Gale force NE winds that were occurring in the lee of Cuba and the approach to the Windward Passage have diminished to strong as the boundary and pres gradient have weakened. Seas have begun to subside but are still 7-10 ft NW of the boundary. Mainly moderate to fresh trades dominate the remainder of the basin, along with 4-7 ft seas. Another trough is in the central Caribbean along 72W. The front will become a remnant trough in the next several hours while drifting to the NW. Winds and seas NW of it will continue to subside and diminish. The trough in the central Caribbean will continue to propagate to the W with high pres building in its wake. Fresh to locally strong trades will accompany the building high over the central and eastern Caribbean, with the strongest winds NW of the coast of Colombia. Winds in the central Caribbean will briefly diminish mid-week as the pres gradient slackens, then will return for the end of the week. A strong cold front may slip SE of the Yucatan Channel Fri night into the upcoming weekend. In the tropical N Atlantic, moderate to fresh trades will prevail through the next several days. Northerly swells of 8-11 ft will persist through the early part of the week, subsiding to 6-9 ft thereafter. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A stationary front extends from near 23N65W to near the Windward Passage. NE gale force winds that were occurring within 120 nm NW of the front have diminished to fresh to strong, with fresh to locally strong NE winds elsewhere NW of the front. E to SE moderate to fresh trades are to the E of the front. Large seas of 8-14 ft NW of the front and NE of the Bahamas are beginning to subside with the diminishing winds. The front will dissipate to a remnant trough this morning into the afternoon, then will drift NW. Associated winds and seas will diminish also. Moderate E-SE winds and 6-9 ft seas will cover the waters outside of the Bahamas by Tue morning with little change through the afternoon. The remnant trough will stretch across 27N by Tue night while a cold front clips the waters N of 27N. High pres will build N of 27N with winds increasing to fresh to strong due to a tightening gradient. These winds and seas will persist N of 27N and W of 70W through Wed night, diminishing by early Thu as the trough finally shifts NW inland over the SE U.S. High pres will build in the wake of the trough from the central Atlantic through Fri. The next cold front may enter the waters E of Florida by late Fri into the upcoming weekend. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Lewitsky. National Hurricane Center.