Alert #21 on Hurricane Isaias
Bahamas Department of Meteorology
Forecast Office Section Telephone No. 377-7178/377-7040
Fax No. 377-5275 Nassau, Bahamas
Strong winds and heavy squalls lashing the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hurricane conditions expected today over portions of The Bahamas.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for the entire Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are being experienced or could be experienced somewhere in the warning area within 36 hours.
At 8:00 AM EDT, the center of Isaias was located near latitude 21.3 degrees north and longitude 73.9 degrees west, or 30 miles northeast of Great Inagua, or about 110 miles southwest of the Turks & Caicos Islands, or 65 miles south of Salina Point Acklins, or about 130 miles south southeast of Clarence Town, Lond Island or about 194 south southeast of Georgetown Exuma or 306 south southeast of Congo Town, South Andros or 344 miles southeast of New Providence.
Isaias is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph, and a general northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected for the next couple of days followed by a turn toward the north-northwest. On the forecast track, the center of Isaias will continue to move away from Inagua and will pass west of Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Island and Exuma, and East of Ragged Island today. Isaias is expected to impact New Providence and the Northwest Bahamas tonight and tomorrow.
Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible today and Isaias is expected to remain a hurricane for the next few days.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center.
Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels can be expected along coastal areas throughout The Bahamas.
Hurricane conditions are now being experienced in Inagua, will spread into the remainder of the southeast Bahamas this morning.