April 13, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Mary Jo Ellen sent us a full moon over Half Moon Bay.
We had a very fresh morning again this morning. I think the days after a norther are some of the best weather days on the islands. The mornings are cooler and the air is a bit lighter, even in the heat of midday. We will see a return of moisture, especially for Wednesday this week.

We have a few clouds here or there this morning, but no rain. We can see the weather system to our southeast that will move in Tuesday night through Wednesday night.
We will be dry today. Tonight into early tomorrow morning we will have about a 30 percent chance of getting a shower. Most of tomorrow and Tuesday morning to midday look dry. Tuesday evening we will see increasing clouds and an increasing chance of a shower. Rain is possible off and on through the day on Wednesday and Wednesday night, perhaps Thursday morning. But Thursday midday into the weekend look dry with maybe a small chance of a shower Friday and Saturday mornings. The following week looks quite dry.

Here is the rainfall forecast through Thursday morning. This system coming from the southeast is quite different than the norther we had last week. When we have a norther, rain is generally heavier closer to the coast. That is why Utila ended up with 7 inches and the east end of Roatan got maybe a quarter of an inch. This next system may actually give Guanaja and east Roatan the most rain, though right now it only looks like 1-2 inches. But in the tropics, rain totals can get high quickly.

Wind and Galaxy Wave forecast: We start the day quite calm, with 7 mph winds from the north and seas MAYBE 1 foot. It is a great day to be on the sea. Through Wednesday we will have calm days with 1-2 foot seas and nights maybe 15 mph from the east/northeast and 2-3 foot seas.
Starting Thursday the east winds pick up to 15 mph and seas 2-3 feet. As we get into the weekend east winds will start to pick up to 20-25 mph at night and seas around 4 feet. Still saying a decent day at the beach for Easter at Camp Bay and a great day at West Bay.
The following week the trade winds will really pick up.

Ikigai has a special menu for Semana Santa that is guaranteed to give you a great meal and get you on your way to the beach or whatever you are doing this week!

Lowest tide is 2:30 p.m. Have a great Sunday!

April 11, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day comes from Sarah Anderson, taken from Buena Vista resort between West Bay and West End.
We had our coolest morning in a long time this morning. Some folks got down as low as 67 (19C). By way of comparison, our all time record low is 63 (17C). Most of us are back around 80 (27C) at 9:30 a.m., but our humidity is still low, so it will be a very comfortable day. We’re going to see a slow return of moisture.

This is our forecast for precipitation through Friday morning. You will notice that the moisture from our cold front will rebound and come back toward us. We will be mostly dry through the weekend with only a small chance of morning or midday showers. But starting Monday evening through Thursday morning we will have scattered showers around. I’ve always heard people say that Semana Santa is the one time during dry season when it rains. On the bright side, Thursday afternoon through the holiday weekend looks mostly dry.

Wind and Galaxy Wave forecast: Our northeast wind this morning is around 10 mph and seas are around 2 feet. Winds will stay around 10 mph and seas around 2 feet through Wednesday, though by Monday they will shift more to the northeast. We start to get our easterly trade winds back Thursday, but it doesn’t look too bad, probably 15 mph and seas 2-3 feet southside through the holiday weekend. This will put Camp Bay is good shape and West Bay in great shape.

For a lot of folks, next week means ham and baked chicken. Your one stop shop for all your meats is Carniceria Rosita, in Coxen Hole and French Harbour. They will take care of you and make sure you get the exact cuts you want.

Low tide is 1:45 p.m. and full moon for the first night of Passover is tomorrow night.

April 9, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day comes from Jeff Bodin with a waterspout from back in December. I don’t know if anyone saw a waterspout, but this is the strongest April norther I can remember since 2019. Utila got nearly 7 inches of rain and Sandy Bay recorded peak gusts of 40 mph. The east side got MUCH less, around a tenth of an inch.
We should start to see conditions improve this afternoon.

On our satellite loop at 10:30 a.m., we can see the mass of clouds starting to move past the islands. We should start seeing some sun this afternoon with dry conditions. Starting tomorrow we will have morning chances of showers but mostly dry middays and afternoons.

Wind and Galaxy Wave forecast: At 10:30 a.m. we have 25 mph northwest winds and 6 foot seas. Those should calm through the afternoon to 15 mph and 4-5 foot seas.
Tomorrow we will have north winds 5-10 mph and seas around 3 feet north side. Friday through Monday we will have north winds around 7 mph and seas around 2 feet. the weekend should actually be very nice. Looks like another, smaller rain system is coming next week Tuesday.

On cool, rainy days your poochie will appreciate the thick, shiny coat he gets as a result of eating specially formulated dog food from Roatan Pets. Check them out at roatanpets.com.

Lowest tides are 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. as we move toward the full moon for the first night of Passover Saturday night. Have a great Wednesday!

Rainfall for March 2025

I almost forgot to do monthly rain totals. I’m putting Sandy Bay’s 1.53 inches in the books for consistency’s sake, but this was a month where the east side got a bit more rain, closer to the monthly average of 3.36 inches. So far, this year’s dry season has been a bit wetter than last year, which was a drought until wet season. Looking forward, April should be above average for rainfall.

April 8, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day is from Daniel Rice and shows a rainbow between West End and West Bay. The only problem with rainbows today is whether we will get enough sunshine. The rain is coming.

You can see on radar at 7:45 a.m. rain in the Caribbean and these showers are moving southeast. Utila has already picked up a third of an inch and Guanaja .17. All of us should see some rain today and into tonight. Heaviest rain should actually fall tonight. Winds will be from the west around 10 mph and seas 2-3 feet. Today’s a day we will see a little wavee action at West Bay beach. Tomorrow rain showers will come to an end sometime tomorrow morning, but we will have north winds around 20 mph and seas 4-5 feet north side. Thursday through the weekend we will have a chance of morning showers each day with mild northeast winds 5-10 mph and seas around 2 feet.

We all know that next week will be a busy time and if you are planning your shore excursion, there is no better place to look than Jolly Roger Roatan. Snorkel the reef and dance on the deck of their catamaran.

Low tides are 12:30 p.m and 12:30 a.m. as we move toward the full moon of the first night of Passover this weekend. Have a great Tuesday!

April 7, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day comes from Chad Kemper above Flowers Bay looking toward Coxen Hole. This photo is appropriate for today because we will see increasing clouds this evening, though today should be mostly sunny and dry.

On satellite at 7:15 a.m. we see our cold front draped across the Gulf into the western Yucatan. We will see an increase in cloud cover around nightfall, with chances of rain tonight, through the day tomorrow and into Wednesday morning. Most models predict an inch and a half to two inches for us, but more as you go toward the coast, so chances are good Utila gets more rain than Guanaja. La Ceiba should see 4-6 inches.
We dry out Wednesday afternoon and we will have small chances of morning showers for the end of the week into the weekend.

Wind and Galaxy Wave forecast: We start the day with 15 mph southeast winds and seas around 4 feet. We will see those winds calming throughout the day and seas should calm to 3 feet. Winds will turn to the west around 15 mph tomorrow and seas will start to turn around as well, turning from the northeast to the northwest at 2 feet. Wednesday morning will be the waviest on the north side, with north/northwest winds 20-25 mph and seas 4-5 feet. On the bright side we will be cooler than we have been in a long time, with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. (24C). Thursday into the weekend winds will be mild, around 10 mph from the north/northeast and seas around 2 feet.

Here’s a sneak peek at the early forecast for Semana Santa. Looks like some rain might pass through around Tuesday of next week and maybe a little the weekend of the 20th. We will start and end the week with light winds, but Wednesday and Thursday of next week should have some stronger trade winds. Seas will be from the northeast, meaning that Camp Bay will have some wave action, but it shouldn’t be too bad.

Explore Roatan real estate with the island’s top experts at Roatan Life Real Estate. Serving clients since 2001, we offer personalized guidance in buying and selling properties. Trust our dedicated team for unparalleled local knowledge. Start your journey at www.roatanlife.com.

Low tides are noon and midnight. Have a great week!

June 6, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day comes from Jesse Tryon who took this sunset photo from the top of the ridge above Sandy Bay.
Fortunately we only have one more day of these extremely high winds

In the Euro forecast for the next two weeks, we can see the cold front now in the US bringing us rain, especially Tuesday into Wednesday. Based on this forecast we can say.
Today: Dry
Tomorrow: Small chance of a morning shower.
Tuesday: Chance of morning showers, then scattered showers increasing toward sunset.
Tuesday night into Wednesday morning: This is the time period where we may see the heaviest rain.
Thursday into the weekend: Chances of morning showers, but mostly dry.

I had been saying the Euro was forecasting less rain for us, but that has changed. The Euro is giving most of us around 2 inches through Wednesday evening, while areas closer to La Ceiba may get 4-6 inches.

The US GFS rain forecast through Wednesday evening is a bit drier, with one inch for most of us and two inches closer to the coast. If this forecast holds true, we will see good rain, unusual for dry April, but not a total rainout Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wind and Galaxy Wave forecast: This is the best part of the forecast. We have one more trade windy day. We wake up to 20 mph east winds and seas 4 feet. We should stay right around there today, getting back up to 30 mph and 5 feet tonight, but we will see a big difference tomorrow, with southeast winds calming through the day, starting 10-15 mph and 5-10 mph midday, with 2-3 foot seas.
Tuesday winds turn west, then northwest at 10-15 mph and seas 3 feet north and west sides.
Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning will be the windiest time, with north winds 20-25 mph and seas around 4 feet. After that Thursday and Friday look quite calm.
Check in tomorrow when we take a closer look at the Semana Santa forecast.

If it is Sunday, it must be lobster day at Ikigai. Get the best lobster deal on the island from one of Central America’s top chefs, Robby Molina in French Harbour.

Lowest tides are 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Have a great Sunday!

April 4, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. This photo was taken by Cesar Gonzalez from Pristine Bay. When I see those three towers above Oakridge I know I’m home 🙂.
The wind continues to be the story, but we are still looking for calmer winds and some rain next week.

This morning we have clear skies, 20 mph east winds and seas at 5 feet southside. We will continue to have these strong east winds (20 mph 5 foot seas days, 30+mph 6+ foot seas nights). This will continue through Sunday. We will have light and variable on Monday with seas down to 3 feet. Tuesday and Wednesday we pick up some north winds at 15 mph that could bring the seas up to around 3 feet northside. This should also cool us down a few degrees. Yesterday at the airport we had a high of 89 (32C) and a heat index of 102 (39C). Clouds and north winds should get us back around 80 (27C) next week.

The chance of rain continues to look like it will be mostly midweek next week, though there will be a chance of scattered showers on Monday. We will be dry until then.

You may not love the waves, but lots of poochies love to jump into them. Your canine will also love the specially formulated, locally sourced food from Roatan Pets that will give him (or her) a healthy coat to protect from sun and sea. Check them out at roatanpets.com.

Here is last year’s official hurricane/tropical storm map. You will note that three storms came near us: Helene in late September, Nadine in late October and the one that struck us, Sara in mid-November. This just goes to show that late in the year is our hurricane season. I hardly worry about hurricanes at all until August. Also, you will note how Sara slowed down and restrengthened, bringing some wave damage especially to Utila. This looks to be an near normal to slightly above normal hurricane season. We will start watching in June, but probably won’t have to worry about anything until late August.

Lowest tide is 10 p.m. Have a great Friday!

April 2, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day comes from Tom Smith at Clearwater Paradise Resort on Guanaja. He said though he was taking a photo of the crescent moon, the rest of the moon was visible in glow.
The airport got up to 34 mph sustained winds, meaning gusts probably got close to 40 mph.

We start the day with east winds 30 mph and seas 4 feet. We should calm a bit midday to 20 mph winds and seas around 3 feet. Tonight we speed up again to 30-35 mph winds gusting to 40 mph and seas 5-6 feet.
Monday things change quite a bit, with winds calming to around 10-15 mph and the direction changing the west and north. Just how much rain we get next week is a subject for debate.

This is the Euro forecast starting Sunday. You will notice it gives us one dose of rain, probably around next Tuesday or Wednesday, from a cold front coming down from the States. If this happens we will probably get some rain, but not a whole lot.

This is the US GFS forecast starting Sunday. It brings the cold front down Monday or Tuesday, followed by a prolonged period of scattered showers that extends into early the week of Semana Santa. If this happens we will get a fair amount of rain, maybe 2-4 inches. In the coming days we will get more clarity into next week’s rain.

We have a sponsor for the April photo contest. The winner gets one free copy of “Meet Me on Roatan” by John Morris. Copies are available now online, or on the island you can get them at Gingers, Java Vine, Las Rocas, and Naboo Resort.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19supBUtUi/
Don’t forget to vote for the March photo of the month. The winner gets a $50 gift certificate to The Lounge Roatan.

Lowest tide is 7 p.m. Have a great Wednesday!

March 31, 2025

Good morning Bay Islands. Our photo of the day comes from Melissa Dawn and shows the island from the air, especially our turquoise waters that are so great for snorkeling and diving. Those activities will be great the next two days, but starting Wednesday you’ll probably want to stay on the north side of the island.

Only a few scattered clouds and no rain this morning. We will be dry this week. There are indications we may have better rain chances next week.
We wake up to east winds 20 mph and seas 4 feet. Those winds should calm to 10-15 mph and seas 3 feet midday. Tomorrow looks much the same, but starting tomorrow night and through the weekend we are looking at very strong trade winds, 30-40mph and seas 6 feet at night and 22-27 mph daytimes and seas 4-5 feet. Next week we should get calmer.

Explore Roatan real estate with the island’s top experts at Roatan Life Real Estate. Serving clients since 2001, we offer personalized guidance in buying and selling properties. Trust our dedicated team for unparalleled local knowledge. Start your journey at http://www.roatanlife.com.

Today’s photo is the last to compete for a $50 gift certificate at The Lounge Roatan. If you would like to sponsor the April contest, please message me via WhatsApp at +1-706-563-7943.

Lowest tide is 4:30 p.m. Have a great week!