The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch from 08:05AM until 11:05AM WEDNESDAY 16TH MAY 2018.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR GRAND BAHAMA, ABACO, BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, ANDROS, EXUMA CAYS AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 08:00AM LIGHTNING DETECTOR, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED CLUSTERS AND LINES OF HEAVY SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORM MOVING TOWARDS AND OVER GRAND BAHAMA, ABACO, BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, ANDROS, EXUMA CAYS AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.

SOME OF THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE HEAVY TO SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG DAMAGING WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS, FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS, AND POSSIBLE HAIL, WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY.

BOATERS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOUR AND RESIDENTS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

ISSUED BY DUTY FORECASTER: SHAYVONNE MOXEY-BONAMY