000 AGXX40 KNHC 251841 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 141 PM EST Thu Jan 25 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 is becoming nearly stationary from W central Cuba SW across the Yucatan Channel and will gradually become ill defined through tonight. A trough lingers NNW to SSE across the far SW Gulf offshore of Veracruz and will meander across the far SW Gulf waters through early Sat. Strong sfc ridge across Gulf coast states still has secondary ridge axis spilling S along E coast of Mexico and W of trough, forcing strong NNW winds along coastal waters of Veracruz, where gales have ended this morning. High to shift ENE and into Atlc through Sat but maintain strong pres gradient across most of basin as front lingers just N of Greater Antilles. Strong NE flow E of current trough will gradually veer E through Fri night, with trough then lifting N as a warm front on Sat afternoon, with a surface low developing along the warm front and reaching coastal waters of SE LA around sunrise on Sun. The low will race NE across the Florida Big Bend on Sun evening, while dragging a cold front across the N central and E Gulf waters on Sun night through Mon morning. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong high pres N of the region will maintain strong tradewinds across the S central Caribbean through Mon night, increasing to gale force along the the NW coast of Colombia during the overnight hours. A stationary front from W central Cuba to N Belize will gradually become ill defined and drift N through Sat. Fresh to locally strong NE winds are forecast across the NW Caribbean by this evening, with strong, to near gale force NE flow spreading E across the NE Caribbean waters on Fri night through Sat as strong high pres shift E off mid Atlc coast of U.S. and passes due N of area. Moderate to fresh trades will continue across the tropical Atlc waters E of the Windwards through Fri night, with strong NE winds forecast Sat through Sun night. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extends SW from 31N66W through the central Bahamas then across W central Cuba. The front will move slowly SE and stall from 24N65W to W central Cuba on Fri evening, with remnants of the front gradually weakening between 21N and 23N through Sat night. Strong high pres will shift E off mid Atlc coast of U.S. during that time and pass due N of area and frontal remnants to induce large area of strong to near gale force winds along and N of front, with 20 kt winds bridging across front to the SE. Models suggest large area of 30 kt ENE winds N of frontal boundary and frequent gusts to gale, and likely spots of sustained gale force winds are likely. Gale advisories not yet issued. The W portion of the frontal remnants will lift N as a warm front across the Straits of Florida on Sun night ahead of a surface low moving NE off the N Florida coast. This low pres center will drag a cold front E across the Straits of Florida on Mon with the front reaching the Central Bahamas late Mon night. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning tonight. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Fri night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sat night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Sun night. .AMZ039...SW CARIBBEAN S OF 11N INCLUDING APPROACHES TO PANAMA CANAL... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Fri night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.