As residents in the northwestern Bahamas were busy preparing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Hanna on Wednesday, meteorologists dropped another bombshell when they revealed that Ike, which is on a similar track as Hanna, had become a category one hurricane.

In a weather alert issued at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, The Bahamas meteorological office revealed that Ike had become the fifth Hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

At 5:00 p.m. the center of Hurricane Ike was located about 670 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands.

"Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 miles per hour and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight and early Thursday followed by a turn to the west on Thursday, taking Ike over the open waters of the west-central Atlantic ocean during the next couple of days," the alert said. "It is too early to determine what if any land areas might be eventually affected by Ike."

Maximum sustained winds had increased to near 80 miles per hour with higher gusts.

"Ike is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale," according to the alert. "Some strengthening is forecast during the next day or two. Hurricane force winds extend outwards up to 160 miles."

Meanwhile, Hurricane alerts for the northern Bahamas were upgraded to warnings as Hanna took aim.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for the central and northwest Bahamas, including Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, New Providence, Andros, the Berry Islands, Eleuthera, Cat Island, the Exuma and its cays, Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador.

A hurricane warning means that winds in excess of 73 miles per hour could be experienced in the warning area within 24 hours.

Hurricane warnings were downgraded to tropical warnings for the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Island, which were left drenched by Hanna over the last several days.

There was some good news, however, as Tropical Storm Josephine started to weaken.

At 5 pm the center of Tropical Storm Josephine was 375 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. Josephine was moving towards the west near 13 miles per hour and a motion between the west and northwest is forecast during the next couple of days.

"Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 60 miles per hour with higher gusts," a weather alert indicated. "Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours, but weakening is expected to begin tomorrow."

Tropical force winds extended outward up to 105 miles from the center.

In the wake of Hanna approaching the northwestern Island and Ike becoming a hurricane NEMA officials again took to the airwaves and cautioned residents to be prepared.

Interim director of NEMA Comm. Stephen Russell reiterated the call for residents to be prepared.

"These storms are coming fast and furiously and everyone must be prepared because there is no telling what could happen," he said Wednesday during a live broadcast to the nation at the Port department. "Get everything you need because it looks like this is going to be a very active season after all."

By NAVARDO SAUNDERS