GENERAL SITUATION: A weak cold front will move across the NW Bahamas tonight and then it will gradually dissipate over the area as a low pressure system with a surface trough shift north and east of the area through Tuesday. A ridge of high pressure will slowly build across the Bahamas from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday high pressure system will continue over the western Atlantic Ocean as high pressure ridge shift north of the Bahamas through Sunday.

Tuesday 25th – Partly sunny, breezy and warm with few scattered showers early across the Bahamas, turning mostly fair and mild at night. Maximum temperature 84ºF and minimum temperature 70ºF. Small craft should exercise caution across the NW Bahamas through early afternoon. Winds W to NW at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas decreasing to 10 to 15 knots later and NW to N at 10 to 15 knots elsewhere, falling light and variable at times. Seas 4 to 7 feet over the NW Bahamas, decreasing 2 to 4 feet later and continuing 2 to 4 feet elsewhere across the Bahamas.

Wednesday 26th – Partly to mostly sunny and warm with few passing showers mainly in the Central and SE Bahamas during the day. Mainly fair and mild at night with the chance of a passing shower. Maximum temperature 83ºF and minimum temperature 68ºF. Winds variable at 10 knots or less, becoming E to SE at 10 to 15 knots later in the NW Bahamas and E’ly at 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas increasing to 15 knots later. Seas 3 feet or less in the NW Bahamas building to 2 to 4 feet later and 2 to 4 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas building to 3 to 5 feet later.

Thursday 27th – Partly cloudy to cloudy and warm with passing scattered showers likely. Clearing skies and warm at night with few isolated showers. Maximum temperature 86ºF and minimum temperature 74ºF. Winds ESE to SSE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet across the entire Bahamas.

Friday 28th - Partly sunny and warm with few passing showers likely during the day. Fair and breezy at night. Maximum temperature 87F and minimum temperature 76°F. Small craft advisory for the SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW and Central Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 25 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW and Central Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Saturday 29th – Mostly sunny, windy and warm with the slight chance of isolated showers during the day. Fair, breezy, and warm at night. Maximum temperature 88°F and minimum temperature 76°F. Small craft advisory for entire Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 15 to 25 knots in the NW Bahamas and E’ly at 20 to 25 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 5 to 8 feet in the NW Bahamas and 6 to 9 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Sunday 30th – Mostly sunny, windy and warm during the day and fair and warm at night. Maximum temperature 86F and minimum temperature 76F. Small craft caution for the entire Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 7 feet over the entire 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