GENERAL SITUATION: A broad western Atlantic high pressure ridge continues to maintain brisk winds over the Central and SE Bahamas with lighter winds across the NW Bahamas through the weekend. As the ridge remains stationary north of the Bahamas the winds will slacken across the Bahamas starting Monday through Wednesday.

Thursday 22nd – Partly sunny, hot and humid with the chance of few passing showers or isolated thunderstorms through the day, turning fair to partly cloudy and warm at night. Maximum temperature 91ºF and minimum temperature 80ºF. Small craft should exercise caution in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots with higher gusts in the NW Bahamas and E’ly 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 23rd – Partly sunny, hot and humid with the slight chance of showers or a possible isolated afternoon thunderstorm during the day. Fair and warm at night. Maximum temperature 90°F and minimum temperature 79°F. Small craft caution continues in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds SE’ly at 12 to 18 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 3 to 5 feet in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 7 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Saturday 24th – Partly cloudy, hot and humid with few scattered showers or a possible isolated afternoon thunderstorm during the day. Fair to partly cloudy and warm at night. Maximum temperature 90°F and minimum temperature 80°F. Small craft caution continues in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots the NW Bahamas and E’ly 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.

Sunday 25th – Partly to mostly sunny, hot and humid with few passing showers or a possible isolated thunderstorm during the day. Fair to partly cloudy and warm at night with few night time showers. Maximum temperature 90ºF and minimum temperature 80ºF. Small craft caution continues for most islands in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW and Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Monday 26th – Partly to occasionally cloudy with widely scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms through night time. Maximum temperature 90ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft caution continues over parts of the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in parts of the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas around 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in parts of the Central and SE Bahamas.

Tuesday 27th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms across the Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 90ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Winds SE to S at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 10 to 15 knots with higher gusts in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the entire Bahamas but higher in gusts.

Wednesday 28th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with few scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms during the day through nightfall in the NW and SE Bahamas. Maximum temperature 89ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft should exercise caution for all areas. Winds SE’ly at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas, falling light and variable at times and E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 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. Boaters and beachgoers should be alert for possible waterspout activity and take all necessary precautions.

Geoffrey N. Greene