BAHAMAS MARINE FORECAST FOR 12:00 P.M. EDT, THURSDAY, 10TH OCTOBER 2024, FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

BAHAMAS MARINE FORECAST FOR 12:00 P.M. EDT, THURSDAY, 10TH OCTOBER 2024, FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
(ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY)

WARNINGS: A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Grand Bahama, Abaco, their surrounding cays, and adjacent waters ONLY. Tropical storm conditions will continue to be experienced across these islands this afternoon as hurricane Milton –presently north of Grand Bahamas moves east-northeast (ENE) over the southwest Atlantic. The tropical storm warning for Bimini has been discontinued. Coastal inundations will continue across north and west coastal areas of Abaco and Grand Bahama especially during the high tide cycle. Large north and northeast ocean swells will begin to impact the north and east coast this evening.

GENERAL SITUATION: Hurricane Milton located north of Grand Bahama will continue to push east-northeast and gradually move away from the Bahamas later tonight but not before dragging a weak frontal boundary across the Central Bahamas by midnight. As Milton moves farther away from the Northern Islands tonight, occasional bands of showers and thunderstorms will pull across the islands this afternoon through Friday, while winds will gradually decrease through the overnight hours. Meanwhile, a mid-level digging trough will interact with a stalled frontal boundary across the Central Bahamas Saturday to support showers and thunderstorm late Saturday through Tuesday mainly across the Central, Northwest and Northern islands

NORTHERN BAHAMAS (INCLUDING GRAND BAHAMA, ABACO, BIMINI & ADJACENT WATERS)

ADVISORY: Boaters and mariners are strongly urged to remain safe in the harbour through tonight as marine conditions remain treacherous. Mariners and boaters are advised not to venture into open, Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters Friday.

WINDS: West to northwest 25 to 35 knots occasionally gusting to 40 knots this afternoon over east Grand Bahama and Abaco: west to northwest 20 to 30 knots with higher gusts over central-west Grand Bahama and Bimini this afternoon: Northerly 20 to 30 knots but gusty over the Abacos tonight and northerly 15 to 25 knots over the remainder of the islands with gusty periods; Friday, northeast 15 to 20 knots with frequent gusty periods.

LOCAL SEAS: 6 to 9 feet over sheltered near coastal waters: 7 to 12 feet over open sheltered waters and 14 to 18 feet over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters: In the Gulf Stream 9 to 13 feet this afternoon: 15 to 20 feet tonight and 12 to 16 feet Friday.

SWELLS: Moderate northeast swells this afternoon: large north and northeast swell tonight through Friday.

WEATHER: Slight chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms through Friday.

OUTLOOK: Saturday: A small craft advisory is in effect for Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters therefore boaters and mariners are strongly urged not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters. Fresh to moderate northeast breeze: small waves over sheltered near coastal waters, moderate waves over open sheltered waters, large waves over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

NORTHWEST BAHAMAS (INCLUDING NEW PROVIDENCE, ANDROS, THE BERRY ISLANDS, ELEUTHERA & ADJACENT WATERS)

ADVISORY: Boaters and mariners are strongly urged to remain safe in the harbour through tonight as marine conditions remain treacherous. Mariners and boaters are advised not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters Friday.

WINDS: Southwest to west 15 to 25 knots through midnight becoming north to northeast 15 to 20 knots after midnight.

LOCAL SEAS: 4 to 6 feet over sheltered near coastal waters: 6 to 9 feet over open sheltered waters, and 8 to 13 feet over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

SWELLS: Light northeast swells through midnight building to large north and northeast swell after midnight.

WEATHER: Slight chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms through Friday.

OUTLOOK: Saturday: A small craft advisory is in effect for Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters therefore boaters and mariners are strongly urged not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters. Fresh to moderate northeast breeze, small waves over sheltered near coastal waters, moderate waves over open sheltered waters, large waves over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

CENTRAL BAHAMAS (INCLUDING EXUMA, CAT ISLAND, LONG ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR, RUM CAY & ADJACENT WATERS)

ADVISORY: Boaters and mariners are strongly urged to remain safe in the harbour through tonight as marine conditions remain treacherous. Mariners and boaters are advised not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters Friday.

WINDS: Southwest to west 15 to 20 knots but quite gusty through midnight becoming northerly 15 to 20 knots after midnight with frequent gusts.

LOCAL SEAS: 3 to 5 feet over sheltered near coastal waters: 6 to 8 feet over open sheltered waters, and 7 to 11 feet over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

SWELLS: Light northeast swells through tonight building to large north and northeast swell Friday.

WEATHER: Isolated showers and thunderstorms through Friday.

OUTLOOK: Saturday: A small craft advisory is in effect for Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters therefore boaters and mariners are strongly urged not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters. Fresh to moderate northeast breeze: small waves over sheltered near coastal waters, moderate waves over open sheltered waters, large waves over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS (INCLUDING INAGUA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA, RAGGED ISLAND & ADJACENT WATERS)

ADVISORY: Boaters and mariners are strongly urged to remain safe in the harbour through tonight as marine conditions remain treacherous. Mariners and boaters are advised not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters Friday.

WINDS: Southwest to west 10 to 15 knots with an occasional guest through tonight then shifting west to northwest 10 to 15 knots on Friday with intermittent gusts.

LOCAL SEAS: 2 to 3 feet over sheltered near coastal waters: 5 to 7 feet over open sheltered waters, and 6 to 9 feet over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

SWELLS: Moderate northeast swells through Friday morning building to large north and northeast swell Friday afternoon.

WEATHER: Isolated showers and thunderstorms through Friday.

OUTLOOK: Saturday: A small craft advisory is in effect for Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters therefore boaters and mariners are strongly urged not to venture into Atlantic or Atlantic exposed waters. Fresh to moderate northeast breeze: small waves over sheltered near coastal waters, moderate waves over open sheltered waters, large waves over Atlantic and Atlantic exposed waters.

MOONRISE: 02:06 P.M.

MOONSET: 12:38 A.M. Fri.

MOON PHASE – First Quarter
Full Moon (17 October @ 07:26 A.M.)

ISLAND TIDES:

NORTHERN (GRAND BAHAMA): HIGH TIDE – 02:14 P.M., LOW TIDE: 08:59 P.M.

NORTHWEST (NEW PROVIDENCE): HIGH TIDE – 01:50 P.M., LOW TIDE: 08:29 P.M.

CENTRAL (EXUMA): HIGH TIDE – 02:59 P.M., LOW TIDE: 09:25 P.M.

SOUTHEAST (INAGUA): HIGH TIDE – 02:06 P.M., LOW TIDE: 08:51 P.M.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK:

Hurricane Milton at 11:00 A.M. EDT was located near latitude 29.2°N and longitude 78.5°W or about 180 miles north (W) of Freeport, Grand Bahamas, and about 205 miles north-northwest (NNW) of Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Milton is moving toward the east-northeast (ENE) near 20 mph and has sustained maximum winds near 80 mph with higher gusts.

Disorganized showers and thunderstorms in the far eastern tropical Atlantic (near the west coast of Africa) are associated with a westward moving tropical wave. This system has a low (~20%) chance of formation through seven (7) days.

Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is NOT expected during the next seven (7) days

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Prepared By: THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECASTER: SMB

———FINAL ALERT on Hurricane Milton  (October 10th at 3pm)

Alert #18 on Post-Tropical Cyclone Milton
(Issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Thursday 10th October 2024 at 3 PM EDT.)

… Tropical Storm Conditions and Storm Surge Continue Along The Northern Bahamas…
…Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued for the islands of Grand Bahama and the Abacos. An ALL CLEAR is now given for these islands…

At 2 PM EDT, the eye of Post-Tropical Cyclone Milton was located near latitude 29.3 degrees North and longitude 77.5 degrees West, or about 200 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, or 200 miles north of Great Abaco.

Milton is moving toward the east-northeast near 21 MPH. A turn toward the east is expected later today with that motion forecast to continue over the western Atlantic for the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Milton will continue to move away from the east coast of Florida and pass north of the Northern Bahamas today.

Milton has become a powerful post-tropical cyclone, with maximum sustained winds near 75 MPH with higher gusts.  Gradual weakening is expected during the next several days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outwards up to 70 miles from the center and Tropical-Storm-Force winds extend outward up to 310 miles from the center.

Impact of Swells:

1.      Thursday 10th October and Friday 11th October 2024 – Northern Atlantic Shorelines: 12 to 18 feet (Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini their surrounding cays and adjacent waters)

2.      Friday 11th October 2024 – For Eastern Atlantic Shorelines

a.      Northern: 12 to 16 feet (Grand Bahama, Abaco)

b.      Northwest: 9 to 13 feet (Eleuthera, surrounding cays, and adjacent waters)

c.      Central Bahamas: 8 to 12 feet (Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, their surrounding Cays and adjacent waters)

d.      Southeast Bahamas: 7 to 10 feet (Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Ragged Island, their surrounding cays and adjacent waters, and the Turks and Caicos and their adjacent waters)

Small craft operators are urged to remain in port until it is deemed safe to venture from port.

…This is the final Alert on Hurricane Milton…

ISSUED BY: MARY BUTLER/mlb