7.20pm: THIS IS A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT…ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 6:00 PM, TUESDAY, 21ST MAY 2013.

AN AREA OF MOIST AND UNSTABLE WEATHER COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH COVERING THE BAHAMAS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSETTLED WEATHER ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND PARTS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

RESIDENTS AND BOATERS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND BE QUICK TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, WATERSPOUTS AND POSSIBLE TORNADIC ACTIVITY DURING THE PERIOD. CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO FUTURE ALERTS ON THE WEATHER AFFECTING THE ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

6.30pm: THIS IS A SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR GRAND BAHAMA, BIMINI, ANDROS AND NEW PROVIDENCE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 3:15 P.M. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013 UNTIL 5:00PM. AT 3:15PM, RADAR, SATELLITE AND GROUND OBSERVERS INDICATE STRONG CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED OVER THE MENTIONED ISLANDS AND MOVING VERY LITTLE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING VERY STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, WATERSPOUTS AND POSSIBLE TORNADIC ACTIVITY. REPORTS FROM OBSERVERS REPORT WATERSPOUTS IN THE GLADSTONE ROAD AREA TOWARDS CORAL HARBOUR. RESIDENTS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER AND REMAIN INDOORS AND BOATERS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOUR UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE OUT OF THE AREA.