Entire Bahamas on Hurricane Warning

Sun, Aug 21st 2011, 03:15 PM

Hurricane Irene, now a Category 2 storm, could become a major Category 3 hurricane later today as it moves through the Southeastern Bahamas, forecasters predicted as the Southeast and Central Bahamas braced for impact from the season's first hurricane.A hurricane watch remains in effect for the Northwest Bahamas, and hurricane warnings continue for the Southeast and Central Bahamas.At 2 a.m. the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 20.1 degrees north, and longitude 69.7 degrees west, about 255 miles east-southeast of Matthew Town, Inagua.
Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours and Irene has the potential to acquire the strength of a major hurricane on Tuesday, said the Bahamas Met Office.Irene is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph. This motion is expected to continue through today followed by a turn toward the northwest Tuesday night and Wednesday.
On the forecast track the center of Irene is expected to move just to the north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti tonight, near or over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas by tonight and near the Central Bahamas early Wednesday, forecasters said.Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles northeast of the center.Storm surge will raise the water levels by as much as 9 to 13 feet over the Southeast and Central Bahamas, forecasters said.The combination of the storm surge and the expected heavy rains of Hurricane Irene will create severe flooding in coastal low lying areas, said forecasters who are urging people living in those areas to seek higher ground.All residents of the Southeast and Central Bahamas (Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Exuma and its cays, Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Ragged Island and Acklins) should rush to complete preparations to protect their properties.
Also, residents in the Northwest Bahamas (Bimini, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, New Povidence and Andros) should begin to make the necessary preparations in advance of Irene.
Forecasters urged residents in the warning area whose homes are not stable to contact their local administrators to locate suitable shelters.Small craft operators in the southeast Bahamas should remain in port. Small craft operators in the Central Bahamas should not venture far from port.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingarham is scheduled to address a NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) press conference at 10:30 a.m Tuesday.

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