Caribbean forecast calls for afternoon storms as weak tropical wave gains strength

A regional weather briefing on 18 May 2026 points to unsettled afternoons across the Greater Antilles over the next two days, with forecasters tracking a weak tropical wave that could gain strength as it enters the Caribbean basin.

Pressure is expected to ease across the Caribbean in the coming days. At the same time, wind speeds are likely to pick up over the open waters of the southern Caribbean. Together, those conditions should bring more cloud cover, showers, and thunderstorms, with the heaviest daytime activity focused on the Greater Antilles.

Forecasters said much of that unsettled weather is likely to flare in the afternoons on Tuesday and Wednesday. Even where the wider basin remains comparatively stable over open water, trade winds can still trigger isolated cloud build-ups. Scattered cloud was reported across the eastern Caribbean on Monday evening.

A very weak tropical wave is already shaping patterns across the general area. Specialists expect the feature to strengthen somewhat as it advances into the Caribbean basin and plan to keep monitoring its progress.

Stable conditions were noted over much of the open basin, though isolated clouds may still form in response to the trades. No detailed local overnight outlook was available from the source segment before the broadcast ended.