000 AGXX40 KNHC 290658 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 158 AM EST Mon Jan 29 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 a 1014 mb low pressure located over southern Alabama to the central Bay of Campeche near 18N94.5W. Recent scatterometer data and buoy observations indicated fresh to strong northerly winds in the wake of the front. Winds are forecast to further increase to minimal gale force across the SW Gulf this afternoon and tonight, particularly S of 21N and W of 95W near the coast of Veracruz, Mexico. Seas are expected to build to 11-12 ft with the strongest winds. The front will reach the Yucatan Channel this evening and move SE of the area by tonight. As a result, winds and seas are forecast to disminish from W to E across the Gulf waters on Tue. By Tue evening, fresh to strong NE winds will persist across the SE waters, including the Straits of Florida, with moderate to fresh N-NE winds elsewhere. At that time, mainly fresh winds will persist across the Bay of Campeche, with seas to 8 ft. A ridge will dominate the region through Thu. The next cold front is forecast by the computer models to enter the northern Gulf waters on Fri. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... The combination of 1036 mb high pressure centered over the Atlantic NE of Bermuda and lower pressure over South America is supporting minimal gales near the coast of Colombia, with seas in the 10 to 14 ft range. Expect winds to gale-force primarily late at night and into the early morning hours through the forecast period. Fresh to strong winds are noted per scatterometer data S of 18N and E of 80W. The aerial coverage of the fresh to strong trades will disminish by tonight as a cold front enters the NW Caribbean. The front will extend from eastern Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras by Tue evening, where it will remain nearly stationary on Wed. Fresh to strong N-NE winds will follow the front, with seas building to 8-10 ft. Winds will increase again across the central Caribbean late on Wed as high pressure builds N of area. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Strong high pres located NE of Bermuda continues to dominate the forecast region. Winds has finally diminished below gale force across the waters S of 22N. Latest scatterometer data indicate fresh to strong NE-E winds in the 25-30 kt range across the waters S of 22N, and fresh to strong E-SE winds of 20-25 kt across the remainder of the forecast area, including the Straits of Florida. A deepening surface low moving from southern Alabama to near Cape Hatteras will drag a cold front across the NW waters today. Southerly winds will increase to 25-30 kt across the NW waters ahead of a cold front/low this morning. Strong to near gale force winds are expected to remain just N of 31N. The front will reach from near 31N73W SW across the NW Bahamas to the Straits of Florida on Mon night, from 31N64W to eastern Cuba by Tue night, and from 23N65W to the entrance of the Windward Passage by Wed night while gradually weakening. Strong NW winds and building seas of 10-13 ft will follow the front. High pressure in the wake of the front will dominate the region through Thu. A cold front is forecast to clip the north waters on Fri. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning today into tonight. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today. Gale Warning tonight. Gale Warning Tue night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Thu night. $$ *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.