000 AGXX40 KNHC 241808 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 108 PM EST Wed Jan 24 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 has begun to stall from extreme S FL and Florida Bay WSW to the N of Bay of Campeche near 21.5N93W then S across central Bay of Campeche. Active cnvtn continues along S end of front under upper ridging. A 1032 mb high over NE TX extends a ridge S along the Mexican coast then to W of front and through Tehuantepec where gales continue. Overnight scat data showed gales along coast of Veracruz to the W of front where models suggest that winds have diminished this morning but will increase again to minimal gales this afternoon through Thu morning as high shifts slowly E across N Gulf coast. The shifting high will nudge the weakening front SSE across the Straits of FL and Yucatan Channel tonight through Thu and force strong NE to ENE winds across much of the basin Thu, and then gradually shifting these strong wind across the E half of basin Fri night through Sat night. After the cold front moves SE of the Gulf waters this evening, models indicate it lifting N as a warm front with a surface low developing along the front near 27N90W on Sat night. The newly formed surface low will move E on Sun, reaching the Florida Big Bend on Sun night, while dragging a cold front across the Central Gulf waters. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong trade winds will continue across S central Carib waters and pulse to gale force along the the NW coast of Colombia during the overnight hours through Sun night. Gulf Mex cold front will move slowly SE and into the NW Caribbean this evening, then stall and gradually dissipate from Central Cuba to Belize through Fri. Strengthening high pressure in the wake of the front will produce fresh to strong NE winds across the NW Caribbean by late Thu, with these conditions spreading E across the NE Caribbean on Fri night through Sat. Moderate to fresh trades will continue across the tropical Atlc waters E of the Windwards through Fri, with fresh to strong NE winds forecast on Fri night through Sun night. Conditions will improve across the Caribbean from the NW on Sun. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front from 31N72W to near Miami will continue moving SE across the N waters while moving very slowly SE S portions, reaching from 31N70W to the Straits of Florida this evening, from 29N65W to Central Cuba on Thu evening, and then gradually stall E to W along 21N-22N on Sat. Strengthening high pressure in the wake of the front will produce strong to near gale force NE-E winds W of the front Thu through Sat, and a very large area of 8-12 ft seas N of the front Fri through Sun. Strong pres gradient along the front where gales are likely Fri night through Sat night is expected to produce seas in 12-15 ft range with possibly higher peak seas. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today into Thu. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning tonight. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Thu night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Fri night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Stripling. National Hurricane Center.