ALERT # 2 ON POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE NINE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY THURSDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 AT 9 PM EDT

#Nassau, September 13, 2019 – Bahamas – …TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATIONARY OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS…

…TROPICAL CYCLONE EXPECTED TO FORM NEAR THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS BY THE WEEKEND…

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES: ELEUTHERA, ANDROS, NEW PROVIDENCE, ABACO, GRAND BAHAMA, BIMINI AND THE BERRY ISLANDS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 36 HOURS.

AT 8 PM EDT, THE POORLY DEFINED CENTER OF THE DISTURBANCE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.7 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 74.8 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 187 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE; OR ABOUT 235 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARSH HARBOUR, ABACO; OR ABOUT 310 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA.  THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN STATIONARY OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SLOWLY TOWARD THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY FRIDAY AND THIS MOTION IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 2 DAYS. ON THIS TRACK, THE SYSTEM IS ANTICIPATED TO MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS ON FRIDAY AND ALONG OR OVER THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA ON SATURDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 30 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  THE DISTURBANCE IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OR A TROPICAL STORM DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS BY LATE FRIDAY.

THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES THROUGH SUNDAY OVER THE BAHAMAS WHICH COULD ALSO PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AREAS.

THIS SYSTEM IS NOT EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE.

THE NEXT ALERT WILL BE ISSUED AT 12 AM EDT ON FRIDAY 13^TH SEPTEMBER, 2019. 

PREPARED BY: IAN V. MCKENZIE