A hurricane watch is now in effect for the Northwest Bahamas, as a hurricane warning continued for the Southeast and Central Bahamas, the Met Office reported this afternoon in its latest update.
At 5 p.m. the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 19.5 north, and longitude 68.6 west, about 295 east-southeast of Matthew Town, Inagua.
Maximum sustained winds are consistent at 80 mph.
Irene's present movement is west/ northwest or 295 degrees at 13 mph.  Minimum central pressure is  988 mb / 29.18 inches.
This motion is expected to continue and build momentum during the next 24 to 48 hours.
Irene is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches in the Southeastern Bahamas and Central Bahamas.
Storm surge will also raise water levels by as much as 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels over the Southeastern Bahamas and 7 to 11 feet over the Central Bahamas, forecasters said.
Near the coast the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.
On its current track the core of Irene will continue to move just to the north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti today. It will be near or over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas on Tuesday and near the central Bahamas early Wednesday.
All residents of the Southeast and Central Bahamas (Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Exuma and its cays, Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Ragged Island and Acklins) are urged to ensure that all pre-season hurricane preparations are completed and remain ready to take quick action to secure property.
Also, residents in the Northwest Bahamas (Bimini, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, New Povidence and Andros) are being asked to continue closely monitoring the progress of the hurricane, and ensure that that all pre-season precautions have been taken.
Small craft operators in the southeast Bahamas should remain in port.

Irene is considered a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Strengthening is forecast during the next few days.
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are foreseeable in Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Acklins and Ragged Island within the coming 36 hours.
A hurricane watch means that Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Cat Island, Exuma and its cays could feel hurricane conditions in the 48 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles to the northeast of the center.

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