NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM SEBASTIEN, ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION AT 6 AM, WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2019.

SEBASTIEN A LITTLE STRONGER.

AT 5 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM SEBASTIEN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.0° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 61.0° WEST, OR ABOUT 235 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

SEBASTIEN IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH (13 KM/H). A TURN TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND NORTH IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH (85 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. SEBASTIEN IS EXPECTED TO BECOME AN EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND BE ABSORBED BY A COLD FRONT ON FRIDAY.

THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT NOON.

PREPARED BY DUTY FORECASTER(S): S. MATHER