THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING UPDATE FROM 12:00 PM EDT UNTIL 2:30 PM, TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST 2019.

A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EXUMAS, AND NOW INCLUDES CAT ISLAND, THE BERRY ISLANDS AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.

THE SEVERE WEATHER WARNING HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR ANDROS, NEW PROVIDENCE AND LONG ISLAND.

AT 11:55 AM OBSERVATION, LIGHTNING DETECTOR, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED CLUSTERS OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH TROUGHING AND A MID TO UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVING TOWARDS AND ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING, HAIL 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 NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

ISSUED BY DUTY FORECASTER: C. WATSON-RAHMING/ K. WARD- FORBES