000 AGXX40 KNHC 120700 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 200 AM EST Fri Jan 12 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... A strong cold front extends across the western Gulf from southern Louisiana near 29N91W to the Veracruz coast of Mexico at 21N97W. Buoy observations across a wide swath of the NW Gulf showed an abrupt increase in winds after FROPA, with multiple locations reporting 45 kt. A scatterometer pass at 0350 UTC had excellent coverage of this high wind event, with gale winds depicted north of the front, especially W of 94W, and max winds confirming the buoy reports at around 45 kt. Very impressive. Seas will rapidly build to 15-16 ft this morning in the area of gale force winds. The front will exit the SE Gulf early Sat morning, with fresh to strong winds over the central and eastern Gulf behind the front. High pres building behind the front will support fresh northerly flow through Sat, with reinforcing cold air increasing winds to 20-25 kt over most of the basin Sat night. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong high pressure in the west-central Atlantic supports fresh to strong trade winds in the tropical N Atlc and E Caribbean. A scatterometer pass at 0220 UTC showed a large area of 20 kt winds in the eastern Caribbean, and gentle to moderate SE winds in the western Caribbean. A cold front in the Gulf of Mexico will reach the Yucatan Channel this evening, extend from central Cuba to eastern Honduras Sat morning, then stall from E Cuba to Costa Rica Sat night. Fresh to locally strong N winds are expected behind the front Sat. A secondary push of cold air will increase winds to 20-30 kt west of the stationary front Sun. Winds will slowly diminish Mon and Tue as high pressure north of the area weakens and the front dissipates. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Strong high pressure centered near 37N56W in the central Atlantic dominates the region. A moderately tight pressure gradient over forecast waters supports a large area of fresh to locally strong trade winds west of 60W as depicted by latest scatterometer data. The strong high will shift eastward tonight, and a cold front in the western Gulf of Mexico will lose its ferocity in the eastern Gulf as it approaches the Florida peninsula this evening. It will move into the Atlc tonight with fresh winds on either side of the frontal boundary. Reinforcing cold air will help push the front SE on Saturday to extend from 31N73W through the central Bahamas to central Cuba Sat evening. Blocking high pres in the central Atlantic will cause to front to stall, becoming stationary from 31N70W across the Bahamas to eastern Cuba Sun and Mon. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ011...NW GULF INCLUDING STETSON BANK... Gale Warning early today. .GMZ013...N CENTRAL GULF INCLUDING FLOWER GARDEN BANKS MARINE SANCTUARY... Gale Warning early today. .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today. .GMZ019...CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N BETWEEN 87W AND 94W... Gale Warning early today. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today into today. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Mundell. National Hurricane Center.