677 AGXX40 KNHC 180800 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 400 AM EDT Sun Aug 18 2019 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... Latest scatterometer data shows depicts an area of fresh to strong south to southwest winds over the far NE Gulf, north of about 27N and W of 84W due to a tight gradient that has developed between weak low pressure of 1013 mb near 29N86W and Atlantic high pressure ridging that extends westward across the eastern and central Gulf waters. Wave heights over this part of the Gulf are peaking to 7-8 ft per latest scatterometer data. The weak low will drift east-northeast through tonight while weakening. This will weaken the gradient enough to allow for these winds to diminish to fresh speeds today. The gradient will again tigthen over that part of the Gulf tonight allowing for these winds to again increase back to fresh to strong speeds. On Mon, these winds are forecast to diminish to gentle speeds. A mid-level trough over the far NE Gulf is helping to set-off scattered showers and thunderstorms there. This activity is likely to last through today and into tonight as the mid-level trough lingers over that part of the Gulf, and has the potential to produce strong gusty winds and locally rough seas. Fresh to strong northeast to east winds will pulse over the waters just west of the Yucatan Peninsula each evening through Mon night. The northern portion of a tropical wave will move from the western Caribbean Sea to over the Yucatan Peninsula Mon and and Mon night, then over the Bay of Campeche Tue through Wed and the far western Gulf late Wed through Thu night. It is expected to be accompanied by ample deep moisture. Otherwise, relatively weak high pressure will extend from the Atlantic to across the central Gulf through the upcoming week. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... The earlier strong northeast winds that were over the Windward Passage have diminished to fresh speeds. The tropical wave that earlier was positioned near 87W has recently moved to just inland the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize. This wave in combination with high pressure to the north of the area will support fresh to strong east winds over over some sections of the northwestern Caribbean today. Fresh to strong winds will resume over the south central Caribbean this evening in the wake of the a tropical wave, that is presently over the eastern Caribbean with axis near 65W as of 06Z, passes across the central Caribbean waters beginning this evening. These winds are expected to last well into the upcoming week, with some indications that they will diminish in coverage possibly beginning late on Wed. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... High pressure ridging extending from near Bermuda to south- central florida will continue to slowly lift northward through Mon as an area of broad low pressure over the southeastern U.S. to the NE Gulf of Mexico lifts to the northeast. An inverted surface trough, currently along 66W/67W, will track westward across the eastern and central forecast waters through tonight, then over the western Bahamas Mon before moving inland over Florida Tue. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will accompany this trough. The gradient between the high pressure ridging and the tonight will allow for generally gentle to moderate east to southeast winds to the north of about 22N and for moderate to fresh east winds S of 22N through most of the forecast period. Fresh to locally strong winds will pulse at night between the Turks and Caicos Islands and Hispaniola through Wed. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *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 Aguirre. National Hurricane Center.