THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FROM 8:20 AM TO 10:20 AM, THURSDAY 27TH JULY 2023.
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ABACO AND THE BERRY ISLANDS, ALONG WITH THEIR ADJACENT WATERS.
 
A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR GRAND BAHAMA ALONG WITH ITS ADJACENT WATERS.
 
AT 8:05 AM, LIGHTNING DETECTION, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NORTHWARDS TOWARDS AND ACROSS THE MENTIONED ISLANDS. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE, INTERACTING WITH A LOW TO MID-LEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE EXTREME NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
 
SOME OF THESE SHOWERS WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS 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 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.