Local weather forecasters say an anti-cyclone system, which is located over the northern portion of the Bahamas, is expected to continue to produce fresh winds and rough seas across Cayman for the next 10 days.
“Anti-cyclone systems are large areas of high pressure which are usually associated with fair conditions,” said Cayman Islands National Weather Service forecaster Gilbert Miller.
Although the system is several hundred miles northeast of Cayman, its effects are still being felt across all three islands. Miller says this weather is likely to continue for the next week-and-a-half.
“We have seen a drop in the amount of rainfall, which is normal for all Caribbean islands when systems like these develop,” said Miller, who added that in Cayman, expected rainfall levels have fallen from an average of 30% to 20%, though any isolated patch of shower activity could see the chances of precipitation return to the 30% mark.
Miller added that winds are expected to remain between 10 and 15 knots with higher gusts as seas become rough, with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet.
A small craft warning has been issued and is expected to remain for at least the next 24 hours, with the possibility it could then be reimposed.
“[The small craft warning] will likely remain in place for the duration of the system; all the modules suggest the system is likely to remain in place for the next 10 days,” he said.
The system, which has been captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites, shows a large area of cloud cover sweeping from Texas across the North American Caribbean coast, extending north of the Florida panhandle and into the Atlantic Ocean.
“These systems often weaken and strengthen, dissipate and then reform, but with the change of weather conditions, persons should also be alert to the fact that we will have more sunshine,” explained Miller.
The decrease in cloud cover is likely to result in hotter weather and more cosmic radiation in the coming days, he added.
A similar weather system, which drifted farther south than normal, is said to have been a contributing factor in the suppression of hurricane activity during the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane season, which caused the overall season to fall short of predictions.
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