Gulf of Mexico — Hazardous marine conditions are expected to develop in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico as a Gale Warning remains in effect for offshore waters south of 22 degrees north and west of 94 degrees west.
According to the National Weather Service, conditions will deteriorate Wednesday night as winds shift to the north and northwest, increasing to 20 to 25 knots. As the stronger winds arrive, seas are forecast to rapidly build to 6 to 9 feet overnight, followed by 7 to 11 feet on Thursday in a dominant north swell.
Earlier Wednesday, winds are expected to remain relatively light, generally less than 5 knots, before the frontal boundary pushes through the region during the evening hours. Once the front passes, marine conditions will worsen quickly, creating dangerous operating conditions for vessels, especially smaller or lightly loaded craft.
Scattered showers are possible Thursday as the colder air mass moves southward across the offshore waters. Seas are expected to remain elevated into Thursday night, with wave heights of 7 to 10 feet before gradually subsiding late Thursday night into Friday.
By Friday, conditions begin to improve as winds weaken and shift, though residual swell of 5 to 7 feet may linger in portions of the southwest Gulf. More favorable marine conditions are forecast to return over the weekend, with seas decreasing to 3 feet or less and east to southeast winds near 10 knots by Saturday and Sunday.
Mariners operating along offshore shipping routes, energy platforms, and transit corridors in GMZ048 are urged to exercise extreme caution. Gale-force conditions significantly increase the risk of vessel damage, loss of control, and crew injury.
The National Weather Service advises mariners to delay departures, seek safe harbor, or adjust routes until conditions improve.
Forecast updates and marine warnings are available at weather.gov/marine.
