GENERAL SITUATION: High pressure ridge over the Bahamas will shift eastward as a weak cold front moves across the NW Bahamas late today through early Tuesday. Front will become quasi-stationary south of New Providence late Tuesday and move northward out of the NW Bahamas by early Wednesday. A second cold front will quickly move across the Bahamas by early Thursday followed by the gradually building of high pressure system on Friday. On Saturday a low pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico will drag a front along with some unsettled weather across Florida and the NW Bahamas as it moves north-eastward into the Western Atlantic Ocean.

Monday 13th – Mostly sunny and warm in the day becoming fair and mild at night for all areas. Max temperature 80F and minimum temperature 63F. Winds variable at 10 knots or less across all area. Seas 3 feet or less over the ocean for all areas.

Tuesday 14th – Mostly sunny and warm in the day becoming fair and mild at night except in the NW Bahamas near the front where lingering clouds and the chance of showers persist. Max temperature 80F and minimum temperature 66F. Winds variable at 10 knots or less becoming easterly at 10 to 15 knots at times for all areas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over all areas in light E’ly swells expected.

Wednesday 15th – Few clouds, breezy, and warm with a shower or two in the NW Bahamas through night time. Mostly sunny and warm, turning fair and mild at night elsewhere. Maximum temperature 82°F and minimum temperature 65°F. Small craft advisory for the NW Bahamas. Winds S to SW at 15 to 25 knots in the NW Bahamas; S to SE a 15 knots in the Central Bahamas, switching S to SW later entire Bahamas and SSE to SSW at 10 to 15 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 5 to 8 feet in the NW Bahamas; 3 to 5 feet in the Central Bahamas and 2 to 4 feet in the SE Bahamas over the ocean. Light to moderate N’ly to NE’ly swells expected over all areas.

Thursday 16th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with few scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms mainly in vicinity of the front during the day through night time. Maximum temperature 83°F and minimum temperature 64F. Small craft advisory continues for the NW Bahamas. Wind SW to W at 15 to 25 knots at first in the NW Bahamas, becoming W to NW at 15 to 20 knots by early afternoon; Winds SW to W at 12 to 18 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 5 to 8 feet in the NW Bahamas decreasing to 4 to 7 feet later and 3 to 5 feet over the Central and SE Bahamas in dissipating light N’ly swells.

Friday 17th – Mostly sunny and mild over the NW Bahamas but partly cloudy to cloudy with lingering scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over the Central Bahamas. Fair and mild at night for all areas. Maximum temperature 81F and minimum temperature 63°F. Winds NW to N at 10 to 15 knots, falling light and variable at times over all areas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over all areas but higher in light NW’ly swells.

Saturday 18th – Partly to mostly sunny, warm and breezy during the day and few clouds and breezy at night. Maximum temperature 82°F and minimum temperature 66°F. Small craft should exercise caution in the NW Bahamas through late Saturday. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots at first, turning more SE to S at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas late. Seas 2 to 4 feet over all areas, building to 4 to 6 feet across the NW Bahamas late with light NW’ly to N’ly swells.

Sunday 19th – Partly cloudy to cloudy and breezy with scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly across the NW Bahamas during the day through the night. Maximum temperature 83°F and minimum temperature 67°F. Small craft caution for the NW Bahamas through early afternoon. Winds SSE to SSW at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas, becoming SW to W at 10 knots or less late; Winds E to SE at 12 to 18 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW Bahamas, decreasing to 1 to 3 feet late and 3 to 5 feet over the Central and SE Bahamas.

Beachgoers and mariners should exercise extreme caution due to the high risk of rip currents and rough surf, especially along the northern and eastern shorelines during stated advisories. Winds and seas will be higher in heavy showers and thunderstorms.

Geoffrey N. Greene