000 AGXX40 KNHC 280657 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 157 AM EST Sun Jan 28 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 weak 1019 mb low pressure is located over southeastern Louisiana with a stationary front extending to near Brownsville, Texas. A band of showers and tstms is associated with the front and low. Recent scatterometer data show fresh to strong SE winds across the eastern Gulf. The low pressure will rapidly track northeastward across the NE Gulf today, and push a cold front through the eastern waters into early on Mon. A strong high pressure ridge will surge southward in the wake of the front over the western waters of the Gulf. A tight pressure gradient will set up in the far SW Gulf on Mon. This will result in gale force NW to N winds that will affect the waters S of about 21N and W of 95W to along the coast of Veracruz Mon afternoon through Mon night. Seas are forecast to build to 9 to 14 ft within the area of gale force winds. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... The most recent scatterometer passes indicated strong to near gale force winds across the Windward passage, fresh to strong winds across the east and central Caribbean, and to the lee of Cuba. Mimimal gale force winds are within about 90 nm of the coast of Colombia, with seas in the 12-15 ft range. The combination of very strong high pressure centered E of the mid- Atlantic states and lower pressure over South America is producing these winds across the basin. The forecast calls for strong to minimal gale force winds near the coast of Colombia every night through Thu night. Expect fresh to strong winds to the lee of Cuba and across the Windward Passage through late today, and across the tropical Atlc waters through late Mon. The next cold front will reach the NW Caribbean by Mon night, and extend from eastern Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras by Tue night. Fresh to strong winds and building seas to 9 ft are expected in the wake of the front. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A very tight pressure gradient persists across the south waters between a shearline along 20N/21N and strong high pressure of 1039 mb centered N of the area near 38N62W. This continues to produce a large area of strong to minimal gale force NE to E winds over the waters S of 24N, including the approaches to the Windward Passage. Given the long duration of these winds across an expansive fetch area, the resultant seas have build to the range of 12 to 16 ft. Altimeter data confirmed the presence of these sea heights across forecast zone AMZ127. These conditions are forecast to continue through early this evening, at which time the gradient should slacken enough to allow for the winds to diminish to strong category, however, seas are forecast to remain quite high in the 12 to 15 ft range with these winds. Fresh to strong NE to E winds are elsewhere, including through the Atlantic passages in the Bahamas, except for strong to near gale force winds across the Straits of Florida. By tonight, winds will veer to the SE winds across the N waters ahead of the next cold front forecast to move offshore the SE United States coast on Mon. The front will reach from near 31N73W southwest across the NW Bahamas to the Straits of Florida on Mon night, then from 31N63W to eastern Cuba by Tue night. Strong NW winds and building seas will follow the front. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning Mon into Mon night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today. Gale Warning tonight. Gale Warning Mon night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Thu night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 GR. National Hurricane Center.