000 AGXX40 KNHC 201924 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 224 PM EST Thu Dec 20 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 a broad 1002 mb low pressure system centered over southeastern Louisiana to 26N89W to 22N93W and to 18N95W. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are along and ahead of the front. The low pressure system will strengthen as it lifts north-northeast through Fri night, with the cold front moving east of the Gulf late tonight. Strong to gale force southerly winds are ahead of the front, while strong to gale force westerly winds are behind the front. Very large seas will build over the east-central waters tonight and Fri and westerly gale force winds are expected through the Straits of Florida beginning tonight through Fri night. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are behind the front to 95W. High pres will shift eastward across the central gulf on Sat, then move across the Florida Panhandle on Sun and Mon before being replaced by stronger high pressure that builds southward from the eastern U.S. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... Fresh to locally strong winds will continue across the south- central Caribbean through Mon, with strongest winds to near gale force expected on Sat night. Strong southerly flow over the far western Caribbean is in response to a tight gradient associated with broad low press centered over the Alabama/Mississippi border and a cold front moving through the central Gulf of Mexico, preceded by a squall line that reaches from near Sarasota, Florida to just north of the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula. The strong southerly flow over the far western Caribbean will continue to expand eastward through tonight and into Fri as the cold front moves across the Yucatan Channel and the western Caribbean to near the Windward Passage to Costa Rica by Sat morning, then slowly move south and slowly dissipate through Sun. Strong northerly winds are expected west of the front on Fri, increasing to near gale force Fri night before gradually becoming north to northeast at strong speeds Sat and Sat night and moderate to fresh northeast to east thereafter. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... Strong to near gale force southerly winds are west of about 70W, except gale force winds noted north of the Bahamas. A strong Gulf of Mexico cold will approach the far NW section of the area tonight. The front will reach from near 30N75W to west-central Cuba by early on Fri and from near 30N72W to the southeastern Bahamas. Strong to gale force winds are expected to occur both east and west of the front, with the wind expanding eastward to near 72W by Fri evening. The front will begin to weaken as it reaches from Bermuda to near 26N70W and to near the Windward Passage by early Sat afternoon and become stationary from near 27N65W to SE Bahamas and to eastern Cuba Sun. Winds and seas will diminish across the region Sat through early next week as high pressure builds east-southeast across the northern waters. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... .GMZ011...NW GULF INCLUDING STETSON BANK... Gale Warning tonight. .GMZ013...N CENTRAL GULF INCLUDING FLOWER GARDEN BANKS MARINE SANCTUARY... Gale Warning today into Fri. .GMZ015...NE GULF N OF 25N E OF 87W... Gale Warning tonight into Fri. .GMZ017...W CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N W OF 94W... Gale Warning into tonight. .GMZ019...CENTRAL GULF FROM 22N TO 26N BETWEEN 87W AND 94W... Gale Warning into Fri. .GMZ021...E GULF FROM 22N TO 25N E OF 87W INCLUDING STRAITS OF FLORIDA... Gale Warning into Fri. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... .AMZ111...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N W OF 77W... Gale Warning into Fri night. .AMZ113...ATLANTIC FROM 27N TO 31N BETWEEN 70W AND 77W... Gale Warning into Fri night. .AMZ117...BAHAMAS INCLUDING CAY SAL BANK... Gale Warning Fri. .AMZ119...ATLANTIC FROM 22N TO 27N E OF BAHAMAS TO 70W... Gale Warning Fri. $$ *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 Aguirre. National Hurricane Center.