000 AGXX40 KNHC 300659 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 159 AM EST Tue Jan 30 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... High pressure over the central plains of U.S. extends a ridge across the Gulf waters behind a cold front that is now moving across the NW Caribbean. Recent scatterometer data and buoy observations indicated fresh to strong northerly winds across most of the region, with minimal gale force NW-N winds across the SW Gulf, particularly S of 21N and W of 95W, near the coast of Veracruz. Seas are in the 11-12 ft with these winds. Winds are forecast to diminish below gale force by this morning, then winds and seas will diminish from W to E across the Gulf waters today. By this 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. The ridge will continue to dominate the region through Thu. The next cold front is forecast to enter the northern Gulf waters on Fri. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A cold front is moving across the NW Caribbean, and extends from Matanzas, Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras. Fresh to strong winds are noted behind the front, including across the Yucatan Channel, per a recent ASCAT pass. The front will reach from eastern Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras this evening, where it will remain nearly stationary through Wed evening, then dissipate across the basin on Thu. Seas will build to 8-9 ft in the wake of the front. Scatterometer data also showed fresh to strong trades across most of the east and central Caribbean, with minimal gale force winds near the coast of Colombia. Seas are building to 12-14 ft with the strongest winds over the south-central Caribbean. Expect winds to gale-force near the coast of Colombia primarily late at night and into the early morning hours through Thu night. The aerial coverage of the fresh to strong trades will disminish today through Wed as the cold front moves across the NW Caribbean. Winds will increase again across the central Caribbean by late Wed into Thu as high pressure builds N of area. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front extends from 31N73W across the NW Bahamas into the Straits of Florida. Latest scatterometer data indicated fresh to strong winds on either side of the front, but mainly N of 27N. Fresh easterly winds are noted S of 22N, with seas to 10 ft E of the Bahamas per altimeter data. The front will reach from 31N65W to eastern Cuba by Tue evening, from 24N65W to the easternmost tip of Cuba by Wed evening where it will remain nearly stationary through Thu evening. Fresh to strong NW-N winds will dominate the entire area west of the front, including the Old Bahamas Channel by this evening, with sea heights of 8-11 ft NE of the Bahamas. Similar marine conditions are expected early on Wed. A band of fresh to strong winds will persist within about 180 nm NW of the front later on Wed, with seas reaching 12 ft over the NE waters. Seas will gradually subside from north to south by Thu. High pressure in the wake of the front will dominate the region through Fri. Another cold front is forecast to arrive over the north waters by Fri afternoon. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today. Gale Warning tonight. Gale Warning Wed night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Thu night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.