979 AGXX40 KNHC 091954 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 354 PM EDT Thu Aug 9 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 few thunderstorms are active this afternoon over the northern Gulf and off the coast of Mexico in the southwest Gulf related to divergent flow aloft. Elsewhere, generally fair skies prevail. A weak ridge extends from central Florida to south Texas. Buoy and scatterometer data show light breezes along the ridge axis mainly north of 24N, and moderate easterly flow over the southwest Gulf. Seas are 1 to 3 ft overall. For the forecast, a trough will develop over the Yucatan Peninsula from the early evenings to overnight hours during the next several days, accompanied by a surge of fresh to occasionally strong winds. Otherwise, high pressure ridging will prevail across the area through into early next week, supporting moderate to fresh SE flow over the west central Gulf and off Texas early next week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A 14Z scatterometer pass showed strong to near gale force winds over much the south central Caribbean. Fresh to strong winds are also noted across the Gulf of Honduras, and fresh winds over the Windward Passage. These winds are the result of strong ridging north of the area, and are modulated to some extent by the passage of tropical waves across the region. Seas are 8 to 13 ft in the south central and southwest Caribbean, and 5 to 7 ft elsewhere. No significant shower or thunderstorm activity is noted at this time. High pressure north of the area will continue to support fresh to strong winds over the south central Caribbean through early next week. A tropical wave will approach the Windward and Leeward Islands today, moving through the central Caribbean by Sun and west of the region early next week. Another tropical wave will move into the eastern Caribbean and the central Caribbean Mon. Winds will approach minimal gale force again Sun night NW of the Coast of Colombia as the pressure gradient temporarily tightens. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A ridge extends along 26N currently, shifing southward this afternoon in response to trouging moving through the southeast U.S. The ridge is keeping winds light from 22N to 29N, with gentle to moderate winds elsewhere. Seas are two to four feet. Minimal shower or thunderstorm activity is observed currently. The ridge will settle along 25N through Fri, then shift northward to 28N through early next week with little change in winds and seas. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Christensen. National Hurricane Center.