Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Weather Underground Forecast for Thursday, February 09, 2012.

In the Caribbean Sea, a ridge of high pressure over the north will slowly move east, allowing a cold front approaching the Yucatan Channel, western Cuba and the Bahamas. Expect showers and thunderstorms to develop along the cold front. Fresh to strong trade winds will continue across the Caribbean Sea and stronger winds can be expected near the Colombia coast.

In South America, a strong cold front will remain to the south of the region Thursday. However, the strong moist onshore flow will continue to trigger light to moderate precipitation over southern Chile early in the day Thursday. Expect precipitation coverage and rate to gradually increase through the day as a new cold front approaches from the west. This front is expected to push through southern South America Thursday night and Friday morning, with the heaviest precipitation falling over southern Chile. Strong winds will also be a concern especially along the frontal passage.

Farther north, a low pressure with its frontal system near Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay will slowly move northeast, keeping widely scattered showers and thunderstorms going across central South America Thursday. Heavy rains and severe thunderstorms are likely to develop near the low pressure center, possibly producing wind gusts to 55 km/h.