Bermuda Weather Service Forecast Discussion
For Saturday, May 16, 2026
08:00 UTC
FORECASTER - Kimberley Zuill
NOWCAST: This Morning through Tonight
Cloudy to overcast skies persisted through the night with cloud
ceilings below 1000ft finally lifting as the cold front inched across
our area. Moderate SW winds slowly veered W then finally NW early
morning. Satellite imagery indicates the edge of high level cloud
over us, and this is likely to thin through the day to give a mostly
sunny or even sunny sky- welcome after the last week of persistent
cloud! High pressure becomes stacked through the atmosphere and at
the surface the smaller high to the west gradually shifts into our
area, linking with the broader “Azores” high to our NE. This in turn
creates a ridge to our north that stretches nearly across the Atlantic…
the first solid attempt at establishing the “Bermuda-Azores” high
this year. The humidity is now comfortably hovering around 70% and
there is a “cool-feel” to the NW breeze. OPC pegs offshore seas around
2m/6ft and they will gradually abate further through the period.
Warnings: None.
AVIATION: VRF conditions. RWY30 with wind 300-350 deg 6-9kts, then
veer NE tomorrow. No hazards expected. For current airfield information
please visit: http://www.weather.bm/Aviation
SHORT TERM FORECAST: Sunday through Monday
Aloft, upper ridging continues to dominate and exert influence of
suppression to our near north, however at the surface the residual
boundary to our south reforms into an inverted trough and cloud becomes
trapped under the southern edge of the ridge. As the boundary slides
to our south, cloud and possible isolated light showers may skirt
over our area during the short term, especially on Sunday. Winds
become ENE but fluctuate as the 2 high centres continue to merge,
with the inverted trough between them amplifying slightly before
models flatten it out. As we remain on the edge of all this activity,
confidence is low in the cloud forecasting, regardless winds will
remain light and fluctuate between NE and E. Temperatures will moderate
somewhat, possibly becoming slightly cooler than average. Moderate
seas ease to become slight at times.
WARNINGS: None expected in the short term.
LONG TERM FORECAST: Tuesday through Wednesday
High pressure slides by to our north as it elongates along that
latitude with a trend towards settled weather with building sunshine.
Light near east winds gradually veer to become SSE by midweek. Slight
seas persist for the long term.
WARNINGS: No watches or warnings are expected in the long term.