MARINE FORECAST FOR THE BAHAMAS FOR 24 HOURS FROM 6:00 AM FRIDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2018 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGICAL AT 1040 UTC.
WARNINGS: A Gale Warning is in effect for the NorthWest Bahamas and small craft boats should remain in port. Beachgoers should refrain from swimming due to extremely hazardous marine conditions and the elevated risk of dangerous surf in the northwest and Central Bahamas…motorists should proceed with extreme caution when driving along the northern and western coastal roads. Residents in Eleuthera should avoid using the Glass Window bridge today due to possible sea spray and crashing sea waves that can impair visibility and create hazardous driving conditions.
GENERAL SITUATION: A COLD FRONT OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TODAY AS PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO PRODUCE SOME UNSETTLED WEATHER AHEAD OF IT. MEANWHILE, GALE FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE BRISK WINDS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS UNTIL TONIGHT.
NORTHWEST BAHAMAS
ADVISORY: GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT…SMALL CRAFT BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.
WINDS: SOUTHWEST TO WEST AT 25 TO 35 KNOTS, BUT GUSTY AT TIMES OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 8 TO 12 FEET OVER THE OCEAN BUT MUCH HIGHER IN GUSTS
SWELLS: NONE.
WEATHER: SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ALONG PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITY TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND A CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: SOUTHWEST TO WEST AT 20 TO 25 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 6 TO 9 FEET OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS, BUT HIGHER IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
SWELLS: NONE.
WEATHER: FEW PASSING SHOWERS LIKELY AT FIRST BUT MORE SCATTERED SHOWERS OR AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM ACROSS THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS LATER.
MOONRISE: 4:41 PM FRI. MOONSET: 6:32 AM SAT.
HIGH TIDE: 6:13AM FRI. & 6:29PM FRI.
LOW TIDE: 12:41PM FRI. & 12:36 AM SAT.
EXTENDED FORECAST: GALE FORCE WINDS OVER THE AREA WILL DIMINISH BY EARLY SATURDAY WHILE A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS BEFORE STALLING NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS ON SUNDAY.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS EARLY AND AN ADVISORY FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS LATE.
WINDS : WEST-NORTHWEST TO NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS BUT DECREASING TO 10 TO 15 KNOTS BY AFTERNOON AND LIGHT AND VARIABLE IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS BUT SHIFTING NORTH TO NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS LATE.
SEAS : 5 TO 8 FEET OVER THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS, FALLING TO 2 TO 4 FEET LATE AND 1 TO 3 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS BUILDING TO 5 TO 8 FEET LATE.
SWELLS: NONE.
WEATHER: FEW SHOWERS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
ADVISORY: NONE
WINDS : NORTHEASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 12 TO 18 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 3 TO 5 FEET OVER THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SWELLS: NONE.
WEATHER: FEW SHOWERS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECASTER: G. GREENE /C.G
