000 AGXX40 KNHC 190628 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 228 AM EDT Sat May 19 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 extending from the Atlantic into the Gulf waters dominates the region. Gentle to moderate E-SE winds and seas of 1-3 ft are noted over the eastern half of the Gulf while moderate to fresh winds and seas of 3-5 ft are observed across the western half of the Gulf. A surface trough is forecast to develop across the eastern Gulf today and will drift WNW over the next 48-72 hours. At the same time, a ridge will persist over the western Gulf. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressures over Mexico will briefly bring some increase in winds across the western Gulf tonight. Expect fresh to locally strong E to SE winds and building seas to 6 or 7 ft. A thermal trough will develop during the evening hours over the Yucatan Peninsula, then move west across the southwest waters during the overnight hours, and dissipate by late each morning. Easterly winds are forecast to gradually increase across the southeast gulf waters during the middle of next week in response to a deepening low pressure over the northwest Caribbean. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Atlantic high pressure will maintain fresh to locally strong trades across the central Caribbean through early next week, with highest seas of 9 ft forecast off the northwest coast of Colombia. A recent scatterometer pass confirmed the presence of these wind speeds. Fresh to locally strong winds are also noted over the NW Caribbean, particularly S of 20N W of 85W, including the Gulf of Honduras. Sea heights of 8 ft generating by the trade wind flow will affect the waters E of the Leeward Islands today, and E of the Windward Islands tonight through Tue. Broad low pressure is forecast to develop across the southwest Caribbean, and move north across Nicaragua early next week, emerging in the Gulf of Honduras during the middle of next week. Marine guidance suggests increasing winds and building seas across the western Caribbean in association with this system. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... An east to west ridge will meander across the northern waters through the middle of next week supporting fresh to locally strong flow across the southern waters, including the approaches to the northern Caribbean Passages. The most recent ASCAT pass indicates an area of fresh to strong winds S of 24N between 70W and 75W, with the strongest winds of 25-30 kt just N of Hispaniola. Seas of 9 ft are within this area of winds based on altimeter data. This area of fresh to strong E-SE winds will expand across the waters S of 27N between 60W and 77W by this morning, with seas building to 9 or 10 ft just N of Hispaniola by this evening. Fresh to strong SE-S winds are also seen from the NW Bahamas all the way to the N to 31N. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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.