The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

TROPICAL Storm Arthur is expected to drop three to six inches of rain on islands in the northwest Bahamas as the system passes through the country over the next two days.

Arthur is expected to produce thunderstorms, some of which will be severe at times, causing strong, gusty winds, dangerous lightning, heavy downpours, hail and possible waterspouts or tornadic activity, Meteorologist Wayne Neely said yesterday.

Localised flooding will also occur in low lying and flood prone areas.

The storm formed off eastern Florida yesterday, making it the first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season.

Arthur is forecast to crawl up the southeast coast of Florida over the next two days, slowly strengthening, and is expected to become a hurricane early Friday.

Severe weather warnings were issued yesterday for New Providence, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini, the Berry Islands and Andros.

However, according to Mr Neely, the storm will have the greatest impact on Abaco, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera.

Residents in those areas are asked to stay indoors and away from windows as conditions worsen.

“We are going to get weather associated with this storm. Grand Bahama and Abaco will get the worst of it with strong winds about 30 knots or more,” Mr Neely said.

“Small craft operators in the extreme northwest Bahamas are being advised to remain in port, those in the remaining northwest Bahamas are being asked not to venture too far from port. In New Providence, we can expect some strong winds for the next day and a half as well as on and off rain and thunderstorms.

“The system is expected to move out of the Bahamas by Wednesday (or) Thursday morning at the latest. It will drop about three to six inches of rain and there is a great chance of flooding,” he added.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s) Climate Prediction Centre is forecasting a near-normal or below-normal storm season. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has a partnership with NOAA through the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.

For the six-month hurricane season, NOAA predicts a 70 per cent likelihood of eight to 13 named storms, with winds of 39 mph or higher, of which three to six could become hurricanes including one to two major hurricanes.

These numbers are near or below the seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, based on the average from 1981 to 2010.

The named storms are: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred.