The Tribune

ALERT #4 ON HURRICANE JOAQUIN ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 AT NOON EDT.

…..JOAQUIN STRENGTHENS SOME MORE AS IT MOVES TOWARD THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS…

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT 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 MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS. RESIDENTS SHOULD RUSH TO COMPLETION PREPARATION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE ABACOS, BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, ELEUTHERA, GRAND BAHAMA, AND NEW PROVIDENCE.

A WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS COULD BE EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE MENTIONED AREAS IN 36 TO 48 HOURS.

AT 11 AM EDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JOAQUIN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.7 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGTITUDE 72.6 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 118 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR OR ABOUT 209 MILES EAST OF GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR ELEUTHERA AND ABOUT 266 MILES EAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE.

HURRICANE JOAQUIN IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST NEAR 6 MILES PER HOUR.  A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS FORECAST ON THURSDAY.  ON THIS FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF JOAQUIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE NEAR OR OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 80 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  ADDITIONALLY STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST AND JOAQUIN COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 125 MILES FROM THE CENTER.

RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING AREAS ESPECIALLY SAN SALVADOR AND CAT ISLAND COULD BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS TONIGHT AND HENCE SHOULD RUSH TO COMPLETE PREPARATION FOR THE IMPACT OF JOAQUIN WHICH INCLUDES SEVERE FLOODING.

RESIDENTS IN THE WATCH AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE PREPARATION FOR THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF JOAQUIN INCLUDING SEVERE FLOODING DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL.

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.