marine weather discussion

NWS TPC/National Hurricane Center Miami FL

145 PM EDT Wed Jul 23 2008

Marine weather discussion for Gulf of Mexico...Caribbean Sea and

southwest north Atlc S of 31n W of 55w.

Gulf of Mexico...

Hurricane Dolly at 26.0n 97.0w at 1500 UTC moving NW 6 kt.

Hurricane warnings in effect for wrn Gulf half. Tropical storm

force winds or greater and seas of 12 ft or greater occurring

over entire NW zone with maximum seas expected to be near 31 ft

before storm moves inland. Dolly's power was felt well before

its well defined eye moves inland. Eyewall and spiral rainbands

have pounded coastal areas relentlessly for over ten hours with

hurricane force winds as Dolly slows its nwly drift. Weakening

expected as Dolly approaches and eventually moves inland later

this afternoon but hurricane warnings over waters W of 95w

likely to remain overnight. Refer to NHC forecast/advisory

under AWIPS/WMO headers miatcmat4/wtnt24 knhc and public

advisory under miatcpat4/wtnt34 knhc for more details. Weak

extension of Atlc ridge builds W across Gulf relaxing pres

gradient and bringing winds down to light and variable over N

Gulf and light to moderate E winds across srn half.

Caribbean and tropical Atlc...

typical strong trade winds in S central portion and moderate to

fresh little change forecast through entire period as N Atlc

ridge remains strong and extends W. Two tropical waves...one

along 81w and the second along 57w move W across basin at 15 kt

but not expected to be major weather players. New Atlc tropical

wave approaches 55w Fri through sun increasing NE winds by end

of forecast period. Timing follows GFS solution although other

models soften intensity of system.

SW N Atlc...

sfc ridge extends E-W just N of 31n with moderate E-se winds

across entire basin. Weak surface trough increases SW winds

over NW part tonight and Thu. Beyond that...conditions change

very little through forecast period.

Warnings...

subject to change based on the latest NHC advisory.

Atlantic...

none.

Caribbean...

none.

Gulf of Mexico...

Hurricane Warning from 24n to 28n W of 94w...gmz080 and gmz082.

.Forecaster Wally Barnes. Tropical Prediction Center.