000 AGXX40 KNHC 180730 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 230 AM EST Sun Feb 18 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 ridge across the NE Gulf will dominate this weekend. Expect increasing winds and building seas by early next week as high pressure strengthens over the western Atlantic. 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. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A tight pressure gradient between the W Atlc ridge along 28N and the Colombian low will continue to support strong to near gale force tradewinds across the S central Caribbean through Mon, with nocturnal winds pulsing to gale force off the coast of Colombia. Reinforcing high pressure will build S into the region Mon to produce increasing winds and building seas across the remainder of the Caribbean, and the Tropical N Atlantic waters through Wed. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A ridge extending E to W along 28N will retract to the E Sun and allow a weak cold front to move off the southeast United States coasts. 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 Mon through Wed to produce strong winds and high seas across the entire region S of 25N $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning early today. Gale Warning tonight into Mon. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night into Thu night. .AMZ039...SW CARIBBEAN S OF 11N INCLUDING APPROACHES TO PANAMA CANAL... GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Mon night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Stripling. National Hurricane Center.