000 AGXX40 KNHC 081803 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 103 PM 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... Low pressure centered over Louisiana extends a cold front southwest to near Tuxpan, Mexico. Latest surface observations indicate fresh to strong winds west of the front with seas in the 5-7 ft range. Strong to near gale force winds are noted N of 26N east of the front to 87W with seas in the 8 to 11 ft range. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh winds with seas in the 4-7 ft range prevail. The low will weaken as it drifts southeastward into Tuesday, before meandering and dissipating to a remnant trough Wednesday. A progressive weather pattern follows as high pressure builds across the area Wednesday, and retreats eastward Thursday enabling another cold front to move into the NW Gulf by Thursday night. The front will rapidly shift across the forecast waters Friday, with fresh to strong NW-N winds behind the front, and 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 surface trough extends from the Windward passage to E Honduras. Latest surface observations indicate winds and seas decreasing over the NW Gulf as the pressure gradient has started to relax. Moderate to fresh winds prevail over the majority of the Caribbean waters as well as the tropical N Atlantic forecast zones. Seas are in the 7-8 ft range over the NW Caribbean, as well as the south central Caribbean waters. Seas in the 5-7 ft range prevail elsewhere over the Caribbean. Northerly swell is producing seas in the 8 to 11 ft range over the tropical N Atlc forecast zones. Fresh to locally strong trades will develop over the central and eastern Caribbean through Tuesday as high pressure builds N of the area. Winds in the central Caribbean will briefly diminish mid-week as the pres gradient slackens, before once again increasing by the end of the week. A cold will move into the NW waters 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 surface trough extends from near 24N65W to the Windward Passage. Latest surface observations depict fresh to strong winds west of the trough and south of 29N, gentle to moderate winds north of 29N, as well as east of the trough. Seas are in the 8-10 ft range south of 28N outside the Bahamas, 5-7 ft north of 28N, and 1-3 ft west of the Bahamas. The remnant trough will lift northward, extending across 27N by Tue night. A cold front will clip the waters N of 27N. High pres will build over the northern waters, which will help tighten the pressure gradient over the area, and increase winds to fresh to strong. These winds will diminish by early Thu as the trough shifts 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 will enter the waters E of Florida by late Fri into the upcoming weekend. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Thu night. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 AL. National Hurricane Center.