THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FROM 7:10 AM EST UNTIL 9:10 AM WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2019.

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

AT 7:00 AM OBSERVATION, LIGHTNING DETECTION, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH MOVING TOWARDS AND ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS, HAIL AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE DURING THESE EVENTS.

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