GENERAL SITUATION: A cold front across the Southeast Bahamas will become stationary just south of the area today as high pressure ridge builds over the entire Bahamas in its wake. Another cold front will enter the Northwest Bahamas by late Saturday or early Sunday and quickly trek to the Southeast Bahamas on Monday. Meanwhile a strong high pressure ridge will keep brisk winds across the Bahamas through Wednesday.

Thursday 17th – Mostly sunny and warm during the day but lingering cloudy periods and showers across the SE Bahamas through night time. Fair to clear skies and mild at night elsewhere. Max Temperature 78°F and Min Temperature 66°F. Small craft should exercise caution for all areas. Winds N to NE at 15 to 20 knots for all areas with seas 4 to 6 feet over the ocean.

Friday 18th - Partly to mostly sunny and warm during the daytime and partly cloudy to fair skies and mild at night. Max Temperature 80°F and Min Temperature 66°F. Small craft should continue to exercise caution for all areas. Winds NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots with stronger gusts for all areas. Seas 4 to 6 feet over the ocean for all areas but higher in gusts.

Saturday 19th – Partly cloudy to cloudy and warm over most areas with few showers through night time. Max Temperature 79°F and Min Temperature 70°F. Small craft caution through morning period for NW and Central Bahamas but caution continuing throughout period for SE Bahamas. Winds NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots at first in the NW/Central Bahamas, becoming NE’ly at 10 to 15 knots by afternoon and NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots for the SE Bahamas throughout the period. Seas 4 to 6 feet gradually decreasing to 2 to 4 feet in the NW and Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet across the SE Bahamas. Light to moderate mixed N’ly to E’ly swells expected.

Sunday 20th – Partly to mostly cloudy and warm with the chance of showers during the day through night time. Max Temperature 79°F and Min Temperature 68°F.Small craft should exercise caution in the NW Bahamas with an advisory possible by afternoon. Winds N to NE at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas increasing to 15 to 25 knots later and NE to E 10 to 15 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW Bahamas building to 5 to 8 feet later and 2 to 4 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas.

Monday 21st – Partly cloudy and warm with scattered showers or a possible thunderstorm mainly along the front in the NW and Central Bahamas. Partly cloudy and mild with showers mainly across the Central Bahamas. Max Temperature 78°F and Min Temperature 68°F. Small craft caution is in effect for all areas. Winds NE’ly at 15 to 20 knots and seas 4 to 6 feet over all areas.

Tuesday 22nd – Partly cloudy to cloudy and warm with showers mainly along the front in the Central and SE Bahamas. Fair and mild at night except for lingering clouds and showers near the front. Small craft caution is in effect for the NW and SE Bahamas and an advisory for the Central Bahamas. Max Temperature 80°F and Min Temperature 69°F. Winds NE to E at 15 to 20 knots in the NW and SE Bahamas and NE to E at 15 to 25 knots in the Central Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet in the NW and SE Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet in the Central Bahamas. Light to moderate mixed N’ly to E’ly swells expected.

Wednesday 23rd – Partly to mostly sunny and warm with few isolated showers mainly across the SE Bahamas. Fair and mild at night. Max Temperature 82°F and Min Temperature 71°F. Small craft caution for the NW Bahamas and an advisory for the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds NE to E at 15 to 20 knots in the NW Bahamas and NE to E at 15 to 25 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet over the NW Bahamas and 5 to 8 feet over the Central and SE Bahamas. Light to moderate mixed N’ly to E’ly swells expected.

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 or thunderstorms.