GENERAL SITUATION: A stationary front remains south of the Bahamas as a second reinforcing cold front dissipates across the Central and SE Bahamas through Friday. Meanwhile, high pressure rebuilds across the area through late Sunday or early Monday before another cold front moves through the Bahamas. High pressure system again rebuilds across the area as front quickly moves through the Central and Southeast Bahamas late Monday or early Tuesday.

Thursday 16th – Partly cloudy to cloudy, breezy and mild today through tonight. Maximum temperature 76ºF and minimum temperature 64ºF. Small craft caution for the Central and SE Bahamas; advisory for SE Bahamas by nightfall. Winds N to NE at 12 to 18 knots across the NW Bahamas and N to NE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas; increasing to 20 to 25 knots in the SE Bahamas at night. Seas 3 to 5 feet across the NW Bahamas; 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas building to 6 to 9 feet in the SE Bahamas by nightfall.

Friday 17th – Partly cloudy to cloudy, breezy and mild during the day through the night time. Maximum temperature 77F and minimum temperature 64°F. Small craft caution in the NW and Central Bahamas and an advisory for SE Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 12 to 18 knots in the NW Bahamas increasing to 15 to 20 knots late; NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the Central Bahamas and NE’ly at 20 to 25 knots in the SE Bahamas with stronger gusts. Seas 3 to 5 feet building to 4 to 6 feet late in the NW Bahamas; 4 to 7 feet in the Central Bahamas and 6 to 9 feet but higher in gusts in the SE Bahamas.

Saturday 18th – Partly sunny, breezy and warm in the NW Bahamas but cloudy and windy with few scattered showers in the Central and SE Bahamas. Mainly fair and cool in the NW Bahamas at night but cloudy and windy elsewhere. Maximum temperature 77°F and minimum temperature 63°F. Small craft caution in the NW and Central Bahamas and an advisory for the SE Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 15 to 20 knots in the NW and Central Bahamas, decreasing in the NW Bahamas late and NE to E at 20 to 25 knots, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots late in the SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW and Central Bahamas decreasing to 2 to 4 feet in NW Bahamas later and 6 to 9 feet in the SE Bahamas decreases to 4 to 6 feet later.

Sunday 19th – Partly to mostly sunny and warm in the NW and Central Bahamas but cloudy with some scattered showers in the SE Bahamas. Partly cloudy to fair and cool at night for all areas. Maximum temperature 81°F and minimum temperature 64°F. Small craft caution in the Central Bahamas that extends across the NW Bahamas late. Winds light and variable in the NW Bahamas shifting NNW to NNE at 15 to 20 knots later and N to NE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central Bahamas and N to NE at 10 to 15 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 3 feet or less, building to 4 to 7 feet later in the NW Bahamas; 4 to 7 feet in the Central Bahamas and 2 to 4 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Monday 20th – Partly to mostly sunny, breezy and warm during the day with few isolated showers. Cloudy with showers in the NW Bahamas but Fair and mild elsewhere. Maximum temperature 82ºF and minimum temperature 63ºF. Small craft caution over the entire Bahamas but improving for NW Bahamas by night time. Winds N to NE veering NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots across the entire Bahamas, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas late. Seas 4 to 6 feet over the entire Bahamas, decreasing to 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas late.

Tuesday 21st – Cloudy with some scattered showers across the NW Bahamas during the day, but mostly sunny and warm elsewhere. Mainly fair at night for most areas. Maximum temperature 81ºF and minimum temperature 65ºF. Small craft caution for the SE Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 10 to 15 knots in the NW and Central Bahamas and NE to E at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW and Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Wednesday 22nd – Mostly sunny and warm but a bit breezy in the SE Bahamas. Fair and mild at night with cloudy patches in the SE Bahamas. Fair and mild at night with cloudy patched in the SE Bahamas. Maximum temperature 83°F and minimum temperature 64°F. Small craft caution over SE Bahamas late. Winds light and variable at times, becoming N to NE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and NE to E at 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas, increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas late. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the entire Bahamas but building to 4 to 7 feet at times in the SE Bahamas late.

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