000 AGXX40 KNHC 171904 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 204 PM EST Sat Feb 17 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 ridge dominates the Gulf region anchored by a 1022 mb high located over the eastern Gulf near 27N83W. Surface observations and scatterometer data indicate that the winds are gentle to moderate over the western Gulf, and light to gentle over the eastern Gulf, with the exception of moderate winds over the SE waters and the Straits of Florida. Seas are in the 3-5 ft range throughout, and little change is expected through Sun. A thermal trough will develop over the western Yucatan Peninsula during each afternoon, drift west across the eastern Bay of Campeche during the overnight hours, and then dissipate over the southwest Gulf waters by late each morning. Moderate to locally fresh NE-E winds will be associated with this trough. Expect increasing winds and building seas by early next week as high pressure strengthens over the western Atlantic. Mainly moderate to fresh SE-S winds are expected across the Gulf waters, with seas of 4-7 ft Mon through Tue. The next cold front is forecast by the GFS computer model to enter the NW Gulf by late Wed. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A tight surface pressure gradient between a high pressure system over the western Atlantic and lower pressure over northern South America should continue to support pulsing winds of minimal gale-force near the coast of Colombia through Sun. Seas of 10-14 ft are expected within the area of the strongest winds. Fresh to locally strong trades are expected elsewhere across the Caribbean. Strong high pressure across the NW Atlc will build S across the region Sun night through Wed to produce strong trades across the east and central Caribbean, and tropical Atlc waters. Minimal gale force winds will persist each night near the coast of Colombia with seas building to 15 or 16 ft by Tue morning, and to 17 or 18 ft by Wed morning. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A ridge extending E to W along 27N will shift gradually N to along 28N tonight, then retract east allowing a weak cold front to move off the southeast United States on Sun. The front will quickly stall and dissipate across the northwest waters on Mon. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail north of the ridge with moderate to fresh winds expected generally south of 25N, except becoming strong along the north coast of Hispaniola and the north approach to the Windward Passage each evening. The ridge will be reinforcing by a stronger high pressure on Mon. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning today into Mon. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night into Thu night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.