GENERAL SITUATION: High pressure ridge will gradually rebuild across the Bahamas for the next few days as Tropical Storm Gert moves across the western Atlantic waters affecting the maritime shipping lanes through the end of the week. High pressure ridge will shift northward to the Florida region through Friday as a tropical wave moves westward across the SE Bahamas. A large surface trough will move northwestward across the SE Bahamas as a surface trough across the NW Bahamas exits to the Florida area on Sunday with some associated unsettled weather.

Monday 14th – Partly to mostly sunny, hot and humid with the chance of a few scattered showers or an isolated thunderstorm during the day. Partly cloudy to cloudy with few lingering showers at night . Maximum temperature 92ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Winds are variable at 10 knots or less in the NW and Central Bahamas and E’ly at 10 to 15 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 3 feet or less over the NW and Central Bahamas and 2 to 4 feet over the SE Bahamas.

Tuesday 15th – Partly cloudy to cloudy and hot with few isolated showers or a thunderstorm during the day, turning fair and warm through night time. Maximum temperature 91ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft should exercise caution in the SE Bahamas. Winds are variable at 10 knots or less the NW Bahamas, falling light and variable at times; E to SE at 10 to15 knots in the Central Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 1 to 3 feet in the NW Bahamas; 2 to 4 feet in the Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Wednesday 16th – Partly cloudy to cloudy with few scattered showers or isolated thunderstorm mainly over open waters during the day through night time. Maximum temperature 91ºF and minimum temperature 81ºF. Small craft should exercise caution across the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots, falling light and variable at times in the NW Bahamas and E‘ly at 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 7 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas, but higher in gusts over all area.

Thursday 17th – Partly to mostly sunny, hot and humid with scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms during the day. Mostly fair and warm at night with the chance of an isolated shower. Maximum temperature 93ºF and minimum temperature 81ºF. small craft caution continues for the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 05 to 10 knots in the NW Bahamas, falling light and variable at times and E’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 1 to 3 feet in the NW Bahamas, falling to 3 feet or less at times and 4 to 7 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Friday 18th – Mostly sunny, hot and humid with few isolated showers or isolated thunderstorms across the NW Bahamas, turning fair and warm at night time. Elsewhere, partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms across the Central and SE Bahamas through night time. Maximum temperature 92°F and minimum temperature 81°F. Small craft caution continue for the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas, falling light and variable at times 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 7 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Saturday 19th – Partly to mostly cloudy, hot and sticky with scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms during the day through night time. Maximum temperature 91°F and minimum temperature 81°F. Small craft should continue to exercise caution in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 knots for the NW Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots later in the day for the Central Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 7 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas, decreasing to 2 to 4 feet for the Central Bahamas later in the day.

Sunday 20th – Partly cloudy to cloudy, hot and sticky with scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms mainly across the NW Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 92ºF and minimum temperature 81ºF. Small craft should continue to exercise caution in the SE Bahamas and a caution for the Central Bahamas through the morning. Winds E to SE at 10 to 15 with stronger gusts in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas, falling to 15 knots or less by afternoon in the Central Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the ocean but higher in gusts in the NW Bahamas and 4 to 7 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas, decreasing to 3 to 5 feet or less in the Central Bahamas by afternoon..

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 to protect life and property.

Geoffrey N. Greene