000 AGXX40 KNHC 171816 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 116 PM EST Wed Jan 17 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 continues to move across the Gulf region. As of 1200 UTC, the front extends from a 1023 mb low pressure over South Carolina across northern Florida into the Gulf of Mexico to near 24N90W to Veracruz, Mexico. Gale force winds are occurring west of the front S of 26N based on latest scatterometer pass. A recent altimeter pass indicates seas of 16-18 ft within the area of gale force winds. The front will move south of the basin tonight. Gale force winds are expected west of the front along the coast of Mexico near Veracruz through early Wed morning. Fresh to strong northerly winds are also expected elsewhere behind the front through tonight. High pressure behind the front will slowly shift eastward along the US Gulf coast through Friday. Fresh to locally strong southerly flow will set- up across the western Gulf on Fri, and persist on Saturday ahead on the next cold front forecast to reach the Texas coast Sun night. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A dissipating stationary front remains across the basin extending from eastern Cuba to near 17N80W. Abundant cloudiness with embedded showers and tstms are noted over the NW Caribbean and a surface trough is analyzed there extending from 21N86W to 15N82W at 1500 UTC. According to the Galvez-Davison Index (GDI), there is a potential for widespread shallow convection across the NW Caribbean and parts of Nicaragua and Honduras today. Abundant moisture will persist over this area through Thursday based on the GFS model. Patches of low-level moisture carried by the trade wind flow are seen across the remainder of the Caribbean Sea. Moderate to fresh NE winds are seen in the lee of Cuba, and within about 60 nm of the coast of Nicaragua. Fresh to strong winds are near the coast of Colombia. The cold front currently moving across the Gulf of Mexico will reach the NW Caribbean tonight, then extend from central Cuba to Honduras on Thursday. Fresh to strong winds and widespread showers are expected behind the front through Thursday night. Strong trade winds will pulse near the coast of Colombia coast Fri night and then expand across much of the central Caribbean over the weekend as high pressure builds N of area. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A weakening stationary front extending from 31N66W to eastern Cuba will dissipate later today. A strong cold front will move off Florida this afternoon, and extend from 31N69W to eastern Cuba Thursday, then weaken SE of the Bahamas from 24N65W to the Windward Passage on Friday. The low pressure currently located over South Carolina will move ENE into the western Atlantic Ocean while deepening. This will induce a band of gale force winds north of 30N on Thursday behind the strong cold front. High pressure will then build east over the SW N Atlantic waters over the weekend. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today into tonight. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... Gale Warning Thu. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... Gale Warning Thu. $$ *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 Latto. National Hurricane Center.