THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FROM 1:25AM EDT UNTIL 3:25 AM TUESDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2019.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ANDROS, BIMINI, GRAND BAHAMA, ABACO, NORTH ELEUTHERA AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 1:20 AM, RADAR, LIGHTNING DETECTOR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY CONTINUED TO DEPICT LINES AND CLUSTERS OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS AND TOWARDS THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS. THIS BROAD AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER IS ASSOCIATED WITH MULTI-LAYERED TROUGHING ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.

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 IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT AS CONDITIONS MAY WORSEN. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

ISSUED BY DUTY FORECASTER: PATRICIA WEEKS