000 AGXX40 KNHC 140812 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 312 AM EST Fri Dec 14 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 strong cold front extends from southern Louisiana to near Tampico Mexico, with surface obs and scatterometer data showing gale force NW winds to 40 kt west of the front. In the NE Gulf ahead of the front, widespread heavy showers and thunderstorm activity is observed north of 25N. The front will reach from the Florida Big Bend to the Yucatan Channel tonight, and move SE of the basin on Sat. The pressure gradient will relax tonight and Sat, with moderate west flow expected on Sat evening as the seas subside to less than 8 ft. The gradient will continue to relax with light northerly winds expected Sun and Mon. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Fresh to strong trade winds will prevail across the S-central Caribbean through the upcoming weekend, with nocturnal pulsing to near gale force off the NW coast of Colombia. These strong trades will expand northward across the rest of the central Caribbean by tonight. A cold front will move through the Yucatan Channel later today, then stall and gradually dissipate over the NW Caribbean this weekend. Strong north winds are forecast west of the front across the Gulf of Honduras late tonight and Sat. Large N swell will reach the Leewards on Sat, and spread south through the northwest Atlantic passages during the weekend. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A slow moving frontal boundary along 24N east of the Bahamas will drift northward today and slowly dissipate. Strong to near gale force southerly return flow will develop north of the Bahamas today ahead of a strong cold front that will sweep east across the northern waters during the weekend, reaching from Bermuda to northwest Cuba Sun night, from 31N71W to central Cuba on Mon, then stall across the tropical waters north of Antilles on Tue. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ011...NW GULF INCLUDING STETSON BANK... Gale Warning early today into today. .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today into today. .GMZ023...SW GULF S OF 22N W OF 94W... Gale Warning early today. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Mundell. National Hurricane Center.