Severe Thunderstorm Warning And Severe Thunderstorm Watch

THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR GRAND BAHAMA AND MAINTAINS A WATCH FOR ABACO FROM 11:35AM EDT UNTIL 1:00PM EDT, FRIDAY 8TH JUNE 2012. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR GRAND BAHAMA INCLUDING THE SETTLEMENTS OF WEST END, EIGHT MILE ROCK, PINDERS POINT, FREEPORT, LUCAYA ESTATES, McLEANS TOWN, SURROUNDING CAYS AND ADJACENT WATERS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL ABACO, SURROUNDING CAYS AND ADJACENT WATERS. AT 11:30 AM EDT RADAR AND SATELLITE DATA INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ORIENTATED WEST TO EAST, APPROACHING GRAND BAHAMA AND SLOWLY MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST.

SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS EMBEDDED IN THE LINE WILL BE SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY.

BOATERS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOUR AND RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS WHEN CONDITIONS WORSEN.

RESIDENTS SHOULD ALSO PROTECT THEMSELVES IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS.