THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FROM 5:40 AM EDT UNTIL 7:40 AM WEDNESDAY 09TH OCTOBER 2019.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTH ABACO AND ITS ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 5:35 AM, RADAR, LIGHTNING DETECTOR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS MOVING NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS AND TOWARDS THE WARNING AREA. THIS AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER IS ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE 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 SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

ISSUED BY DUTY FORECASTER: IAN V. MCKENZIE