The Tribune

ALERT #12 ON HURRICANE JOAQUIN ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY WEDNESDAY 1ST OCTOBER, 2015 AT NOON EDT.

…..EYE OF JOAQUIN MOVING OVER SAMANA CAYS ….

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ABACOS, THE BERRY ISLANDS, ELEUTHERA, GRAND BAHAMA, AND NEW PROVIDENCE.

A HURRICANE WARNING IS ALSO IN AFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY AND SAN SALVADOR.

A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY AND MAYGUANA.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES RAGGED ISLAND AND INAGUA AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.

AT 11 AM EDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JOAQUIN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.0 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGTITUDE 73.9 DEGREES WEST. THIS POSITION PUTS THE EYE OVER SAMANA CAY AND 15 MILES NORTH OF ACKLINS OR ABOUT 53 MILES EAST OF LONG ISLAND OR ABOUT 115 MILES NW OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND ABOUT 230 MILES ESE NEW PROVIDENCE.

HURRICANE JOAQUIN IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST NEAR 6 MILES PER HOUR. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY AND A FASTER MOTION TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF JOAQUIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE NEAR OR OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS TODAY AND TONIGHT AND PASS NEAR OR OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS ON FRIDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 125 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. JOAQUIN IS NOW A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE AND SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY POSSIBLE THROUGH SATURDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL PREPARATION HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND REMAIN INDOOR ONCE CONDITIONS DETERIORATES.

HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE SEVERE FLOODING IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AS LARGE SWELLS AND BATTERING WAVES WILL AFFECT THE BAHAMAS DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.