GENERAL SITUATION: A broad Atlantic high pressure ridge will maintain moderate to strong breezes over the area as it meanders between the Bahamas and Florida this weekend through next week. Meanwhile, the combination of a developing broad low pressure system near the Yucatan Peninsula and a mid to upper level low in the Gulf of Mexico waters near Florida will continue to push rich tropical moisture across parts of the Bahamas through early next week.

Thursday 15th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with few scattered showers and widely scattered thunderstorms mainly across the NW Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 90ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft should exercise caution in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds ESE to SSE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW and Central Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots 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.

Friday 16th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered showers and widely scattered thunderstorms mainly across the NW and Central Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 89°F and minimum temperature 79°F. Small craft should exercise caution in the SE Bahamas. Winds SE to S at 10 to 15 knots with higher gusts in the NW Bahamas; E to SE at 12 to 18 knots in the Central Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas; 3 to 5 feet in the Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Saturday 17th – Continuing partly to mostly cloudy with some scattered showers and widely scattered thunderstorms across the entire Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 90°F and minimum temperature 79°F. Small craft caution in effect for Central Bahamas and an advisory for the SE Bahamas. Winds SE’ly at 10 to 15 knots the NW Bahamas; E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 25 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas; 4 to 6 feet in the Central Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet in the SE Bahamas over the ocean.

Sunday 18th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms affecting the NW and Central Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 91ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft should exercise caution in the NW Bahamas and an advisory is in effect for Central and SE Bahamas. Winds SE’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 25 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas becoming gusty at times. Seas 4 to 7 feet in the NW Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas but higher in gusts.

Monday 19th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers or thunderstorms, becoming fair to partly cloudy and warm at night with the chance of few passing showers. Maximum temperature 89ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft should exercise caution in the NW Bahamas and an advisory continues for the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds SE’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 25 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet in the Central and the SE Bahamas.

Tuesday 20th – Partly sunny, hot and humid with spotty daytime showers or isolated thunderstorm possible during the day. Patchy clouds at night with scattered showers or possible isolated thunderstorms mainly across the NW Bahamas. Maximum temperature 89ºF and minimum temperature 80ºF. Small craft caution continues in the NW Bahamas and an advisory continues for the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds SE’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 25 knots with stronger gusts in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Wednesday 21st – Partly Cloudy to Cloudy, hot and humid with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms across the Bahamas through night time. Maximum temperature 90ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft caution continues for the NW Bahamas and an advisory continues for the Central and SE Bahamas through early afternoon, then a caution comes into effect for the SE Bahamas. Winds SE to S at 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts in the NW Bahamas, decreasing to 10 to15 knots or less from the SSE to SSW later; E to SE at 15 to 25 knots at first in the Central and SE Bahamas, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots in the Central and 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas with higher gusts later. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW Bahamas, decreasing to 2 to 4 feet later; 5 to 8 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas, decreasing to 3 to 5 feet in the Central Bahamas and 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. Boaters and beachgoers should be alert for possible waterspout activity and take all necessary precautions.

Geoffrey N. Greene