GENERAL SITUATION: A cold front currently over Florida and the western Atlantic Ocean waters will push southward into the Extreme NW Bahamas tonight through early Friday morning, followed by brisk winds over the area from a strong high pressure system. This strong high pressure system will produce near gale to gale force winds in sporadic periods while pushing a cold front or two through the Bahamas Saturday and Sunday. A Cold front will become stationary south of the Bahamas on Sunday but strong winds will remain into early next week.
Friday 03rd – Partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered showers or a few isolated thunderstorms mainly across the NW Bahamas during the day through night time. Mostly sunny and warm elsewhere turning fair and warm at night. Maximum temperature 83F and minimum temperature 68°F. Small craft advisory for the NW Bahamas. Winds NE’ly at 20 to 30 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 8 to 12 feet in the NW Bahamas and 2 to 4 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.
Saturday 04th – Variable clouds and windy with widely scattered showers or a possible isolated thunderstorm mainly in the Central Bahamas during the day through night time. Maximum temperature 76°F and minimum temperature 66°F. Small craft advisory for the NW and Central Bahamas and a caution for the SE Bahamas. Winds NE’ly at 20 to 30 knots with stronger gusts in the NW and Central Bahamas and NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 8 to 12 feet across the NW and Central Bahamas, but higher in gusts and 4 to 7 feet in the SE Bahamas.
Sunday 05th – Partly to mostly cloudy and windy with few scattered showers or the chance of a thunderstorm near the frontal zone during the day through night time. Maximum temperature 79°F and minimum temperature 67°F. Small craft advisory across the entire Bahamas; small craft should not venture far from port, Winds NE to E at 20 to 30 knots and gusting to gale or near gale force at times across all areas. Seas 8 to 12 feet over the entire Bahamas but higher in gusts.
Monday 06th – Partly cloudy to cloudy and windy with the chance of few passing showers during the day. Fair and breezy at night. Maximum temperature 80F and minimum temperature 68F. Small craft advisory for the entire Bahamas. Winds E’ly at 20 to 25 knots across the entire Bahamas and Seas 6 to 9 feet across the entire Bahamas.
Tuesday 07th – Partly cloudy and windy with brief passing showers likely from daytime to nightfall. Maximum temperature 82F and minimum temperature 68F. Small craft caution advisory for the entire Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 15 to 25 knots across the NW Bahamas and winds E’ly at 20 to 25 knots across the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 5 to 8 feet across the NW Bahamas and 6 to 9 feet across the Central and SE Bahamas.
Wednesday 08th – Partly to mostly sunny and warm during the day but fair and mild at night. Maximum temperature 84°F and minimum temperature 69°F. Small craft caution for the Central Bahamas early and an advisory for the SE Bahamas becoming a caution later. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas, E’ly at 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots later in the Central Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 25 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas later. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the NW Bahamas, 4 to 6 feet, falling to 2 to 4 feet later in the Central Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet, falling to 4 to 7 feet in the SE Bahamas later.
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
