GENERAL SITUATION: A cold front will move through the Southeast Bahamas by tonight as a ridge of high pressure over the Eastern United States slowly builds across the Northwest Bahamas. A low pressure system over the Central Gulf of Mexico will produce unsettled weather across the Bahamas as it moves eastward with a trailing front or trough late Wednesday or early Thursday. Large high pressure ridge will build across the area through Sunday as another front approaches the Bahamas.

Tuesday 21st – Partly sunny and warm with increasing clouds and showers later in the day. Partly cloudy to cloudy at night with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms at night. Max temperature 77F and minimum temperature 68F. Winds N to NE veering NE to E at 12 to 18 knots across the entire Bahamas. Seas 3 to 5 feet across the entire Bahamas.

Wednesday 22nd – 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 79°F and minimum temperature 66°F. Small craft caution for the entire Bahamas and an advisory for the NW Bahamas later. Winds E to SE at 15 to 20 knots over all areas but increasing to 15 to 25 knots in the NW Bahamas by late afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 feet over the entire Bahamas but building to 5 to 8 feet over the NW Bahamas later.

Thursday 23rd – Mostly cloudy to overcast with scattered showers and thunderstorms affecting most of the Bahamas during the day through night time. Maximum temperature 78°F and minimum temperature 67F. Small craft advisory for the NW and Central Bahamas and a caution in the SE Bahamas. Wind SSE to SSW at 20 to 30 knots, gusting to gale force and veering SW to W at 15 to 20 knots at 15 to 20 knots at times in the NW and Central Bahamas; SE to S veering S to SW at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 5 to 8 feet in the NW and Central Bahamas and 4 to 7 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Friday 24th – Partly sunny and warm turning fair at night across the NW Bahamas, but cloudy to overcast with scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly over the Central and SE Bahamas through night time. Maximum temperature 81F and minimum temperature 68°F. Small craft caution for the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds SW to W at 05 to 10 knots, falling light and variable at times in the NW Bahamas and SW to W at 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Saturday 25th – Mostly sunny and mild with few lingering clouds or showers in the SE Bahamas. Fair and mild at night. Maximum temperature 84°F and minimum temperature 68°F. Winds W to NW veering NNW to NNE at 05 to 10 knots for all areas, falling light and variable at times. Seas 1 to 3 feet over the ocean for all areas.

Sunday 26th – Partly to mostly sunny and warm with the chance of few isolated showers. Fair and mild at night. Maximum temperature 81°F and minimum temperature 68°F. Winds N to NE at 10 knots or less, falling light and variable at times over all areas. Seas 3 feet or less over the ocean for all areas.

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