THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING FROM 3:40 PM UNTIL 6:00 PM MONDAY 23RD JANUARY 2017.

A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE ISLANDS OF  CAT ISLAND, LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, SAN SALVADOR, RUM CAY AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 3:40 PM OBSERVATION AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS WITH WINDS UP TO GALE FORCE. THIS SQUALL LINE PRECEDES A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TODAY.

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

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. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.