The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has issued A Severe Thunderstorm Warning from8:50 AM EDT UNTIL 10:50 AM EDT WEDNESDAY 21ST AUGUST 2019.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ELEUTHERA, CAT ISLAND, LONG ISLAND, CROOKED ISLAND, RUM CAY, SAN SALVADOR AND MAYAGUANA ALONG WITH THEIR ADJACENT WATERS WHILE A WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR EXUMA, ANDROS AND NEW PROVIDENCE.

AT 8:45 AM LIGHTNING DETECTOR, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED CLUSTERS OF SHOWERS WITH SOME STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH TROUGHING MOVING ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS AND TOWARDS THE WATCH AREAS. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS, HAIL AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. 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 AND BOATERS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION SHOULD CONDITIONS WORSEN. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

ISSUED BY DUTY FORECASTER: PATRICIA WEEKS