000 AGXX40 KNHC 211719 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1219 PM EST Wed Feb 21 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... Areas of dense fog will be possible, especially close to shore under continued deep and moist SE flow. A weak cold front will drift into the Texas coastal waters through the evening before stalling and moving back inland into early Thu, with isolated thunderstorms possible ahead of it. Strong high pressure across the W Atlc will maintain a ridge extending W across the Gulf coast states to produce fresh return flow across most of the basin, except strong winds through the Straits of Florida and across central portion of the Gulf. Seas will occasionally build to 8 ft in and near the area of higher winds, with mainly 4-7 ft seas elsewhere and otherwise. The ridging will weaken by the end of the week through the weekend, allowing for winds and seas to diminish and subside somewhat. A weak cold front will drift into the far NW waters Sat night and stall there through Sun night. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Strong high pres across the NW Atlc will dominate the region as it settles across the Bermuda area through the end of the week. Fresh to strong tradewinds will prevail across the Caribbean and Tropical N Atlc waters through Thu, with nocturnal winds pulsing to gale force winds off of Colombia. Winds will likely peak overnight tonight, to around 40 kt, with large seas up to 12-16 ft NW of the coast of Colombia. Fresh to strong winds will continue through the approach to the Windward Passage, as well as in the Gulf of Honduras through Thu night, and all other Atlantic passages. High pres will weaken through the weekend, leading to diminishing winds and seas across the basin. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... W Atlc ridge will persist along 33N-34N through Thu then drift SW and slowly weaken by the end of the week through the weekend. Gentle to moderate winds will prevail N of 25N with fresh to strong winds S of 25N through Thu. NNE swell will move through waters E of 65W through Fri night. As the ridging weakens, the winds and seas will significantly diminish and subside with little change likely into early next week. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... .AMZ031...CARIBBEAN FROM 11N TO 15N BETWEEN 72W AND 80W INCLUDING COLOMBIA BASIN... Gale Warning today into Fri. GALE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE Fri night. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Lewitsky. National Hurricane Center.