HURRICANE MATTHEW: NEMA continues to urge preparation as Hurricane Matthew moves through The Bahamas (Alert 31)
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, continues to urge residents, particularly in low-lying areas to do all they can to safeguard themselves, families and properties from impending dangerous flooding from Hurricane Matthew.
Alert #31 from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology advises that the combination of a dangerous storm surge and large and destrutive waves could raise water levels by as much as 10 to 15 feet above normal tide throughout the country.
Residents are advised to seek the nearest Hurricane Shelter in their areas, should they need to evacuate to more secure location.
POWERFUL HURRICANE MATTHEW NOW MOVING THROUGH THE BAHAMAS AFTER HITTING CUBA HARD.
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE BAHAMAS.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE ISLANDS WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 11AM, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE MATTHEW WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.8 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 75.2 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DUNCAN TOWN, RAGGED ISLAND, 70 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF SALINA POINT, ACKLINS, 105 MILES SOUTH OF DEADMAN’S CAY LONG ISLAND, 125 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF GEORGE TOWN EXUMA, 260 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FRESH CREEK ANDROS, 400 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF WEST END, GRAND BAHAMA AND 255 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE.
MATTHEW IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH, AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK MATTHEW WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE BAHAMAS THROUGH THURSDAY, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE VERY NEAR THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA BY THURSDAY EVENING.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 120 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. MATTHEW IS NOW A DANGEROUS CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, AND MATTHEW IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT CATEGORY 3 OR STRONGER WHILE IT MOVES THROUGH THE BAHAMAS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES FROM THE CENTER.
STRONG TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WITH GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL BE EXPERINCED IN LONG ISLAND, RAGGED ISLAND, EXUMA, CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY AND SAN SALVADOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, SUBSIDING BY THURSDAY MORNING.
RESIDENTS IN ANDROS, THE BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, ELEUTHERA AND NEW PROVIDENCE WILL BEGIN EXPERIENCING TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS TONIGHT. BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING THE WINDS WILL INCREASE TO HURRICANE STRENGTH IN NEW PROVIDENCE, NORTH ANDROS, THE BERRY ISLANDS AND BIMINI, AS THE CENTER OF MATTHEW IS EXPECTED TO PASS VERY NEAR THOSE ISLANDS ON THURSDAY MORNING.
RESIDENTS IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ON COASTAL ROADS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR LOCAL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR OR NEMA OFFICE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR RELOCATION TO A HURRICANE SHELTER BEFORE THE ONSET OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS.
THE COMBINATION OF A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AND LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES COULD RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 10 TO 15 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE THROUGHOUT BAHAMAS.
SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AND SEEK SAFE HARBOUR FOR THEIR VESSELS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROPERLY SECURED.