Follow us here for the latest news on Hurricane Matthew as it approaches the Bahamas. . .
12.45am: LYNDEN Pindling International Airport (LPIA) is operating as normal on Tuesday but will now close at 11am on Wednesday, the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) has announced after a meeting with its airport stakeholders and the Bahamas Meteorological Department.
"The travelling public is encouraged to contact their respective airlines for flight updates," a statement from NAD read. "A listing of all airlines and their contacts can be found on LPIA’s website at www.nassaulpia.com. The public is further advised to listen for public announcements following the storm regarding when airport operations will resume."
11.45am: ALL Government offices in New Providence and Grand Bahama will be closed as of 3pm on Tuesday until further notice.
The Cabinet Office also advised Bahamians throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to continue with their hurricane preparations and to observe all National Advisories/Alerts/Watches/Warnings issued by the National Emergency Management Agency, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and other essential Government Ministries/Corporations/Agencies and Departments.
10am: AIRPORTS in the southern and central islands of the Bahamas are closing on Tuesday, the Department of Civil Aviation in conjunction with the Airport Authority have advised. The closures and timings announced are:
Matthew Town, Inagua – 7am
Duncan Town, Ragged Island – 10am
Spring Point, Acklins – 2pm
Colonel Hill, Crooked Island – 4pm
Arbraham’s Bay, Mayaguana – 4pm
Deadman’s Cay, Long Island – 6pm
Samana Cay – 10pm
The Department of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority will advise the public of any changes to these times, as necessary. People are also requested to listen carefully for additional airport closures throughout the week, and for airport re-openings.
9.30am: A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for the entire Bahamas, the Department of Meteorology has announced, as Hurricane Matthew, a "dangerous" category 4 storm, prepares to make landfall in Haiti on Tuesday.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the islands within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
At 5am, the centre of Matthew was about 200 miles south west of Cap Haitien, Haiti, 165 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba, 225 miles south south west of Mathew Town, Inagua, 315 miles south south east of Duncan Town, Ragged Island, 300 miles south of Salina Point, Acklins, and 536 miles south south east of Nassau.
Matthew is moving north near 9mph and is expected to continue in similar fashion during Tuesday before a turn north north west is expected by Wednesday followed by a north west turn on Wednesday night.
On the forecast track, Matthew will move over portions of the south east and central Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday and approach the north west Bahamas on Wednesday night.
Maximum sustained winds are 145mph with higher gusts. Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through at least Wednesday night.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds outward up to 185 miles.
Residents are advised to rush to complete preparations for the onset of hurricane conditions, which should begin to affect Inagua by noon on Tuesday and spread into Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Long Island by Tuesday night.
Extensive to severe flooding can be expected as Matthew is forecast to produce rainfall amounts of eight to 12 inches over the south east Bahamas with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large and destructive waves could raise water levels by as much as 10 to 15 feet above normal tide in the Bahamas.
Small craft operators throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands should remain in port and seek safe harbour for their vessels and ensure they are safely secured.
Tuesday 9.30am: THE College of the Bahamas Oakes Field and Grosvenor Close campuses in New Providence and the Northern Bahamas Campus in East Grand Bahama are operating normally on Tuesday but will be closed on Wednesday, when classes will be suspended. The closure includes the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre and Chapter One Bookstore.
Gerace Research Centre in San Salvador will be activated as a hurricane shelter from Tuesday. Following the passage of Hurricane Matthew and after the National Emergency Management Agency has issued the official “all clear”, a thorough assessment will be conducted of all College facilities and a subsequent notice will be issued regarding the resumption of operations and classes at the respective campuses.
Administrators, faculty, staff and students are asked to take every precaution to protect themselves, their families and their property and to closely monitor all official COB communication channels (website – www.cob.edu.bs, emails and social media) as well as the national news media for announcements and updates related to contingencies and operations at COB.
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