MESSAGE:
The centre of Hurricane Isaias is approaching Andros Island and is expected to approach the Southeast Coast of Florida later today and Sunday.
PRESENT LOCATION:
About 80 miles or 125 km SSE of Nassau
About 210 miles or 335 km SSE of Freeport Grand Bahama Island
HURRICANE WARNING:
Boca Raton to Volusia/Flagler County Line Florida
Northwestern Bahamas
Central Bahamas
HURRICANE WATCH:
Hallandale Beach to south of Boca Raton Florida
STORM SURGE WATCH:
Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Verdra Beach Florida
TROPICAL STORM WARNING:
North of Ocean Reef to south of Boca Raton Florida
Lake Okeechobee
TROPICAL STORM WATCH:
Volusia/Flagler County Line to Ponte Vedra Beach Florida
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SITUATION:
According to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), Miami, Florida at 5:00 a.m. AST, the centre of Hurricane Isaias was located near latitude 23.9 North, longitude 77.1 West. Isaias is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h), and a general northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next day, however, a turn toward the north-northwest is expected by late Sunday.
On the forecast track, the centre of Isaias will move near or over the Central Bahamas this morning, near or over the Northwestern Bahamas later today and near the east coast of the Florida peninsula tonight through Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change is expected through Sunday, and Isaias is forecast to remain a hurricane during this time. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 988 mb (29.18 inches).
RAINFALL:
Bahamas: 4 to 8 inches.
Cuba: 1 to 2 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 4 inches.
These rainfall amounts could lead to life-threatening flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
From Friday night through Tuesday:
South Florida into east-Central Florida: 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches.
Northeast Florida into coastal Georgia: 1 to 2 inches.
Carolinas into the mid Atlantic, including the southern and central Appalachians: 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches.
Source: National Hurricane Centre (NHC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2020 [https://rb.gy/72n7ac]
The following update presents information on the preparedness activities of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) participating states or member countries:
THE BAHAMAS: NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NEMA)
● The Archipelago of the Bahamas is currently being impacted. Preliminary reports on the impact to the southern islands indicate a Level 1 impact, no major damages.
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HAITI: THE CIVIL PROTECTION DIRECTORATE
The Civil Protection Directorate reported minor impact:
● Losses to the Agriculture sector, particularly bananas in the Departments of Sud, Grand Anse and Nippes
● Damages to roofs in the Departments of the South East to Bainet in the locality of Camaniol; Baudin Commune of Port de Paix and Jean-Rabel
● Press briefings were conducted by the Technical Coordinators of the Central and North West Departments
● The National Emergency Operations Center remains activated
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS – Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME)
● The DDME, TCI advised that the impact was a Level 1 and therefore no external support required.
● Minor damage reported: localized flooding; power outages in certain parts of the territory and some interruptions in communication in certain parts of the island.
● The Hurricane warning has been discontinued.
Source: Regional Coordination Centre, CDEMA Situation Report #1, 2020