000 AGXX40 KNHC 180730 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 230 AM EST Thu Jan 18 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 cold front extends from southern Florida across the SE Gulf to the northern part of the Yucatan peninsula. The front will push south of the basin later this morning. Scatterometer data at 0240 UTC shows fresh to strong NE winds in most of the forecast area. The pressure gradient associated with trough across the SW Gulf continues to support 25-30 kt NW winds west of the trough along the Veracruz coast of southern Mexico. High pressure behind the front will slowly shift eastward along the US Gulf coast through Friday. Fresh southerly return flow will set up in the western Gulf Fri and Sat 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 surface trough is evident from scatterometer data across the Gulf of Honduras. Fresh to strong NE winds are northeast of the trough axis to southern Cuba, and fresh to strong W to NW winds are southwest of the trough near the coast of Honduras. The sharp trough will be the focus for widespread shallow convection across the area. A cold front in the Gulf of Mexico will reach the NW Caribbean later today, then extend from central Cuba to Honduras tonight. Strong winds and widespread showers are expected behind the front through Fri morning. Fresh to strong trade winds will pulse near the coast of Colombia coast Fri night, then expand and strengthen across much of the central Caribbean over the weekend as high pressure builds N of area in the west-central Atlantic. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... The leading edge of cold air surging southeast out of the U.S. is analyzed from 31N72W across the Bahamas to central Cuba. The main cold front is moving off the Florida peninsula, and extends from 31N75W to southern Florida. This primary cold front will extend from near 31N69W to eastern Cuba tonight, then weaken SE of the Bahamas from 24N65W to the Windward Passage on Friday. Deepening low pres moving off the Carolinas will move ENE into the western Atlantic and induce a band of gale force westerly winds north of 30N between 67W-75W today behind the strong cold front. Strong winds and high seas are expected NE of the Bahamas through early Fri. High pressure will build east over the SW N Atlantic waters over the weekend. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... Gale Warning today. .AMZ115...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 65W AND 70W... Gale Warning today. $$ *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.