THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FROM 2:15 PM EDT UNTIL 4:15 PM EDT MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2019.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR RAGGED ISLAND, AND ITS ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 2:10 PM, LIGHTNING DETECTOR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY CONTINUED TO SHOW AN AREA OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY SHOWERS OVER THE RAGGED ISLAND CAYS IN THE WARNING AREA. THIS AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER IS ASSOCIATED WITH MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGHING ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS ALONG WITH A PASSING TROPICAL WAVE SOUTH OF THE ISLANDS.

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 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/P. WEEKS