The Tribune

UPDATE: Sandy now a category 1 hurricane as it moves over Jamaica.

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FORECASTERS are warning of strong winds and scattered storms for the duration of the day as Tropical Storm Sandy draws closer to The Bahamas.

Forecaster Greg Thompson said yesterday the whole chain of islands was under a Tropical Storm watch, but a storm warning - signalling the storm is a day away - could be issued later on this afternoon for the southern islands.

Under the storm ‘watch’ residents in Long Island, Exuma, Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador and the southeast Bahamas, which includes Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Inagua, Mayaguana and Ragged Island have been told to prepare for very strong winds and heavy rains which could result in flying debris and flooding in low lying areas Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.

“The Tropical Storm warning is issued when the system is within 24 hours of affecting and that will probably start with the southeast Bahamas (today), and through central Bahamas the day after, and moving into northwest Bahamas on Friday,” said Mr Thompson.

This morning and beyond, Mr Thompson said, Bahamians everywhere are expected to experience ‘widespread’ cloudy weather, scattered showers and thunderstorms.

“Most of it occurring in the central and southeast Bahamas,” he said. “And it’s going to be very windy.”

He added: “The weather will deteriorate as the week goes on.”

Tropical Storm Sandy was expected to become a hurricane today as it approaches the south coast of Jamaica, the US National Hurricane Center said, prompting authorities in Jamaica to close schools and prepare shelters to take in residents of flood prone areas.

The storm was centred about 260 miles (420km) south-southwest of the Jamaican capital, Kingston, last night and had top sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85kph).

A hurricane warning was in effect for both Jamaica and Cuba, meaning residents should expect heavy rains and strong winds within 48 hours, although forecasters said Sandy was expected to be a Category One hurricane, with winds topping out at 80 mph (128km).

Director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency, Captain Stephen Russell said Tropical Storm Sandy ‘may enter in Bahamian territory early Thursday morning - that’s the centre of it.’

“But based on the diameter, we are going to experience more of this weather into late Wednesday afternoon.”

Winds tonight are going to intensify, he warned, as the system makes its way towards the Bahama islands.