The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has issued A Severe Thunderstorm Warning from 5:00 PM EDT until 7:00 PM EDT FRIDAY 23RD AUGUST 2019.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN GRAND BAHAMA AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ABACO AND ANDROS.

AT 4:50 PM, LIGHTNING DETECTION, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY CONTINUED TO DEPICT CLUSTERS OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARDS AND ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS. THIS AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER IS ASSOCIATED WITH A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE JUST EAST OF THE COAST OF SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA THAT IS BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 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 AS CONDITIONS WORSEN. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

ISSUED BY DUTY FORECASTER: IAN V.MCKENZIE