General Situation: High pressure system over the area slides southeastward as a cold front quickly moves through the Bahamas early Wednesday through late Thursday. The tail end of a second cold front will skirt the NW Bahamas as it is pulled northeast of the islands on Friday. High pressure system will build across the Bahamas through the weekend with warmer conditions expected.

Tuesday 20th – Partly cloudy, windy and warm in the NW Bahamas with scattered showers or isolated thunderstorms, but partly sunny and warm across the Central and SE Bahamas. Partly cloudy and breezy with scattered showers or possible isolated thunderstorms across the NW/SE Bahamas at night, turning fair and warm elsewhere. Maximum temperature 87°F and minimum temperature 71°F. Small craft advisory is in effect for the NW Bahamas. Winds S to SW at 15 to 25 knots in the NW Bahamas and SSE to SSW at 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas, falling light and variable at times. Seas 5 to 8 feet over the NW Bahamas and 2 to 4 feet across the Central and SE Bahamas.

Wednesday 21st – Partly cloudy and mild behind the front in the NW Bahamas and partly to mostly cloudy and warm with scattered showers mainly along the frontal zone during the day through nightfall. Maximum temperature 82°F and minimum temperature 66°F. Small craft advisory remain in effect for the NW Bahamas and a caution is across parts of the Central Bahamas. Winds SW to W at 15 to 25 knots veering W to NW at 15 to 25 knots in the NW Bahamas; S to SW at 15 to 25 knots veering W to NW at 15 to 20 knots in the Central Bahamas and SSE to SSW at 10 knots veering W to NW at 10 to 15 knots, falling light and variable at times. Seas 5 to 8 feet in the NW Bahamas; 4 to 6 feet in the Central Bahamas and 2 to 4 feet in the SE Bahamas.

Thursday 22nd - Partly to mostly sunny and mild during the day across the NW and Central Bahamas, turning fair and mild at night. Mostly cloudy with few scattered showers across the SE Bahamas during the day through nightfall. Maximum temperature 76°F and minimum temperature 63°F. Small craft advisory for the NW Bahamas turns to a caution later while a caution will affect the SE Bahamas. Winds NW to N at 15 to 25 knots early, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots later and N’ly at 10 to 15 knots across the Central and SE Bahamas, increasing to 15 to 20 knots late in the SE Bahamas. Seas 5 to 8 feet over the NW Bahamas, decreasing to 4 to 6 feet late, and 2 to 4 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas but building to 4 to 6 feet late in the SE Bahamas.

Friday 23rd – A mix of sun and clouds during the day and partly cloudy to fair skies at night for all areas. Maximum temperature 77°F and minimum temperature 64°F. Small craft should exercise caution at times over all areas. Winds NE to E at 10 to 15 knots but increasing to 15 to 20 knots at times over all areas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the ocean but building to 4 to 6 feet at times over all areas.

Saturday 24th – Partly cloudy to cloudy and warm during the day through nightfall. Maximum temperature 79°F and minimum temperature 64°F. Small craft should exercise caution across the SE Bahamas. Winds NE’ly at 10 to 15 knots in the NW and Central Bahamas and NE’ly 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 at times in the SE Bahamas.

Sunday 25th – Mostly sunny and warm across the NW Bahamas during the day, turning fair and mild at night. Partly cloudy and warm during the day but partly cloudy to fair mainly across the Central and SE Bahamas. Small craft should exercise caution in the SE Bahamas. Maximum temperature 81°F and minimum temperature 66°F. Winds S’ly at 5 to 10 knots, falling light and variable at times; E to SE at 10 to 15 knots in the Central Bahamas and E’ly at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas. Seas 1 to 3 feet across the NW Bahamas; 2 to 4 feet in the Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet over the SE Bahamas.

Beachgoers and mariners should exercise extreme caution due to high surf and the risk of dangerous rip currents along the northern and eastern shorelines during stated advisories.

Geoffrey N. Greene