THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING AND WATCH FROM 3:50 PM EDT UNTIL 5:50PM FRIDAY 22ND JULY 2016.

A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ANDROS, THE BERRY ISLANDS AND A WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NEW PROVIDENCE, ABACO AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 3:50PM OBSERVATION AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED CLUSTERS OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS ANDROS AND THE BERRY ISLANDS AND TOWARDS NEW PROVIDENCE AND ABACO.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS, HAIL AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY. ALSO FLOODING MAY OCCUR IN LOW LYING AREAS.

BOATERS IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOUR AND RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS WHEN CONDITIONS WORSEN. BOATERS AND RESIDENTS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION WHEN CONDITIONS WORSEN. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTENING CONDUCTORS