Bermuda Weather Service Forecast Discussion

For Wednesday, April 30, 2025  09:00 UTC

FORECASTER - James Dodgson 

NOWCAST (Today/Tonight)
Overnight saw conditions very much following the NWP and official 
forecast, with both strong winds and locally rough seas falling below 
warning threshold (as per AWOS, Ascat and NOAA OPC Sea Height analysis 
data), allowing yesterday evening’s small craft warning to expire 
in a timely manner. WV s now showing upper ridging spreading in from 
the NW and this is supporting a ridge of high pressure at the sfc, 
anchored WSW/ENE just to the NW of the Island. With a subsidence 
inversion around 5000ft, some cold-air Sc cloud is trapped beneath 
this and seen filtering across the local area. However, it is aligned 
in thin ‘cloud streets’ allowing Bermuda to experience mostly clear 
skies at times. With the clouds being relatively thin, thanks to 
the inversion, radar remained clear of any reflectivity. Looking 
ahead to today and tonight and the benign weather pattern is set 
to continue with skies likely to become mostly sunny today. Moderate 
NE winds are slated to ease light, while temperatures are expected 
to recover a degree or two high than yesterday at 22C/low 70s F. 
Moderate seas continue to abate, becoming slight to moderate. No 
watches/warnings are anticipated.

AVIATION: VFR conditions dominate the latest 06Z TAF period with 
mostly light NE winds (some backing towards end of period but not 
TAFable). For current airfield information please visit:  http://www.weather.bm/Aviation 


SHORT TERM FORECAST (Thursday-Friday)
Broad upper ridging is very much the dominate influence in the short 
range forecast period. This corresponds to high pressure ridging 
remaining in charge at the sfc. Wind will be mostly light from the 
N-NW, possible becoming variable at times. Seas will ease mostly 
slight. As for weather, the only hiccup is a weak front that presses 
in from the N on Thursday night, likely to linger into Friday morning 
with some isolated shower activity. QPFs are generally small at no 
more than 1-2mm or 1/10th of an inch. There is some discrepancy between 
how the models handle this feature, but aside from a couple of showers 
into Friday morning, it promises to be largely dry and sunny. With 
a return of some modest WAA, temperatures will recover to near average 
once again. No watches/warnings are expected.

LONG TERM FORECAST (Saturday-Sunday)
For the most part, upper ridging remains in control, with just a 
hint of a break down from the W right at the end of the period. At 
the sfc, high pressure ridging also remains in charge with more predominantly 
dry and sunny weather and temperatures further recovering to a little 
above average. Light winds are progged to increase light to moderate 
from the SE for a time. On Sunday night the UK model continues to 
be rather bullish with sending showers into the area from the E in 
concert with inverted troughing. The rest of the NWP is not as aggressive 
so a blended approach is taken for now, just introducing more cloud 
and mostly isolated showers Sunday night. Seas may build a touch, 
but still remain mainly slight. No watches/warnings are anticipated 
at the present time.