By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Staff Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
BIMINI and Grand Bahama were expected to face strong winds starting around midnight today as Hurricane Milton approached Florida.
Trenard Tynes, a senior meteorologist in Grand Bahama, said the storm remained on track to land in Tampa by evening today. Milton, a category five storm at its peak, weakened to a category three storm yesterday as it neared Florida.
Mr Tynes said while The Bahamas won’t face a direct hit, Bimini and West Grand Bahama will feel the storm’s affects, with winds reaching 15 to 20mph and sea swells rising two to four feet above normal tide. The storm’s main impact on the northwest Bahamas will be gusty winds and some flooding in low-lying coastal areas, but no major damage is expected.
Mr Tynes noted that wind gusts could reach up to 45 knots by midday, with East Grand Bahama and Abaco seeing similar conditions later in the afternoon and evening.
Though rainfall will be light, any precipitation could cause flooding due to saturated ground from a previous weather system. Mr Tynes warned that power lines and tree branches might be brought down by strong winds and advised residents to secure outdoor furniture and boats to prevent damage. Residents are also urged to stay indoors during the worst of the storm.
Bimini is expected to improve by Thursday afternoon, with West Grand Bahama clearing by Friday morning. Abaco should see conditions improve by Friday night.
Government officials are prepared to respond if needed. Minister for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey, said agencies are ready for any emergencies. Kingsley Smith, MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, emphasised the need for vigilance, noting that the Ministry of Works has already started clearing drains from Hepburn Town to West End.
The Incident Command Centre at the Obadiah Hercules Wilchcombe Complex is fully activated, and emergency numbers are operational for any issues that might arise during the storm.
Comments
bahamianson 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Are you sure? Who did ypu get ypur weather report from? If you got it from Brave Davis or Basil Dean......I really dont know..... their rwpory means it will be the opposite .
ThisIsOurs 1 month, 2 weeks ago
It would have been great if the messaging before we looked out the window today had been 15-20mph winds, 2-4ft above sea level, light rain and a weakened storm. Because it was predictable.
Instead they couldnt say dangerous, strong, cat5, never seen before, protect yourselves enough.
It is expensive to mobilize for a storm. The people and resources used in the mobilization cost money and time and could be put to other pressing tasks if accurate assessments are made. That is the point of a meeting, to assess. Not to come out and say it's better to prepare for a cat5 and 9" of rain even if we only get 15mph winds and 0.5" of rain and who knows what the weather will do
The best way to prepare for hurricane season is better and more targeted weather equipment. Not politics and drama to appear to be commanding and in charge. I will say the Met got this right, it was the politicians who milked the weather for election points. With one reporting that he was busy giving out hurricane supplies today???? For what?
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