000 AGXX40 KNHC 221805 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 205 PM EDT Sun Apr 22 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 cold front has reached the NW Gulf and extends from near the Texas/Louisiana border to Brownsville, Texas. This front is preceded by a pre-frontal squall line affecting mainly the waters N of 28N E of the front to about 87W. S-SW winds in the 20-25 kt range are noted ahead of the front per buoys observations. A warm front is over the NE Gulf and extends from SE Louisiana to near Ft. Myers, FL. Fresh to locally strong SE winds are observed N of the warm front, forecast to lift N and move inland later today. The cold front is expected to reach from the Florida Panhandle to NE Mexico by Mon morning, from near Tampa Bay to Tampico, Mexico by Tue morning, and reach the Straits of Florida and the SE Gulf by Wed morning while moving slowly across the SW Gulf. Moderate to fresh northerly winds will follow the front today, with building seas of 4-5 ft. Gentle to moderate winds are then expected in the wake of the front tonight and Mon. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Atlantic high pressure will maintain fresh to strong trades near the coast of Colombia through Tue, then mainly moderate to fresh trade winds will prevail the remainder of the forecast period. Fresh to locally strong winds are also expected along the southern coast of Hispaniola tonight through Mon morning. Seas are forecast to build to 8-11 ft with the strongest winds near the coast of Colombia. The cold front currently moving across the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to reach the Yucatan Basin on Tue night, and wash out across the NW Caribbean by Wed. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A stationary front extending westward from 27N65W to south- central Florida will lift northward today, with near gale force southeast flow developing across the forecast waters north of the Bahamas on Mon and Mon night in association with a surface low that will move eastward across the southeastern United States. The surface low will track northeastward along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Tue, and drag a couple of weak cold fronts across the northwest waters during the middle of next week. Currently, a band of showers with embedded tstms is associated with the front, particularly W of 65W. Winds and seas could be higher near tstms. The pressure gradient between high pressure N of the area and the front supports a belt of fresh to locally strong easterly winds N of the front to about 28N-29N with seas near 8 ft based on altimeter data. Winds and seas will further increase N of the front as it lifts N tonight and Mon. An area of fresh to locally strong easterly winds will persist S of 22N between 70W and 74W, including approaches to the Windward Passage from late in the afternoon through the early morning hours through Wed. Some ship observations indicated winds of up to 30 kt this morning. Seas are forecast to build to 5-7 ft with these winds. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.