THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FROM 12:00 PM EDT UNTIL 3:00 PM, FRIDAY, 13TH MAY, 2022.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. THIS INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF ABACO, THE BERRY ISLANDS, ANDROS, NEW PROVIDENCE, NORTH AND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA, AND THE NORTHERN EXUMA CAYS AND ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 11:55 AM LIGHTNING DETECTION, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NORTHWARDS TOWARDS AND ACROSS THE WARNING AREA. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED NORTH OR THE AREA ADVECTING A DEEP PLUME OF MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIMASS ACROSS THE BAHAMAS.

SHOWERS WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY AT TIMES AND 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 THE PASSAGE OF THESE STORMS.

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.