000 AGXX40 KNHC 130706 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 206 AM EST Tue Feb 13 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 stationary front extends from the Florida Panhandle to the W Bay of Campeche. Fresh to strong winds are still noted W of the front per scatterometer data, with the strongest winds of 25-30 kt over the SW Gulf. Seas are in the 8-10 ft range within the area of the strongest winds. The front will remain nearly stationary on Tue, then will begin to drift westward late on Tue while weakening. A frontal trough will remain over the SW Gulf through Wed. A ridge will dominate the Gulf region the remainder of the work-week producing mainly an easterly wind flow through Wed. By Thu, winds will veer to the SE and S as a high pressure center develops near or just over Florida. Under the influence of the ridge, mainly gentle to moderate winds will prevail, with the exception of moderate to fresh winds over the SE waters and the Straits of Florida likely through Wed night. Fresh N-NE winds will occur during the evening hours within about 90 nm of the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula due to local effects induced by a thermal trough. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A recent scatterometer pass provided observations of gale force winds in the 30-40 kt range near the coast of Colombia. Fresh to strong winds are noted across the remainder of the east and central Caribbean, through the Windward Passage, and to the lee of Cuba. Outside the area of gale force winds, seas are in the 9-12 ft range based on altimeter data and buoy observations. These marine conditions are the result of a tight pressure gradient between a strong high pressure of 1036 mb located in the Atlantic Ocean near 34N47W and the Colombian/Panamanian low. Little change in this weather pattern is expected through at least Wed. As a result, strong trade winds will continue to prevail across the east and central Caribbean, including the Atlantic passages, and the waters E of Lesser Antilles. Winds will reach minimal gale force near the coast of Colombia each night through Sat. Fresh to strong winds are also expected in the lee of Cuba, and through the Windward Passage through Thu. Fresh to locally strong winds are forecast in the Gulf of Honduras at night. The aerial extent of the strong trades will be confined to the central and SW Caribbean late on Thu, with these marine conditions persisting through Sat. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A ridge, with axis across the N waters, dominates the forecast area. Latest scatterometer data and ship observations indicated fresh to strong E winds across the waters S of 25N, with winds reaching near gale force to the approach of the Windward Passage. Seas of 8-12 ft are seen outside of the Bahamas based on altimeter data and buoy observations. Under the influence of the ridge, fresh to strong E winds will continue to blow across the waters S of 23N/24N through early Wed morning. Seas of 11-12 ft S of 27N and outside of the Bahamas associated with long period easterly swells will gradually subside to 8-9 ft by Wed night, and below 8 ft by Thu night. A trough is forecast to persist over the NW waters through Wed. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today into Wed night. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Wed night into Sat night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.