The Tribune

ALERT #5 ON HURRICANE JOAQUIN ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 AT 3 PM EDT.

…..JOAQUIN CONTINES TO STRENGTHEN…

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.

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

A WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

AT 2 PM EDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JOAQUIN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.4 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGTITUDE 72.9 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 90 MILES EAST OF SAN SALVADOR OR ABOUT 190 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR ELEUTHERA AND ABOUT 255 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 OR THURSDAY NIGHT. ON THE 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 85 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 INCLUDINGS 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.