Message: Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for portions of the Bahamas as Depression #12 upgraded to Tropical Storm Kate.

THE SITUATION:
On November 9, 2015, Tropical Storm Kate became the eleventh named Storm of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The Government of the Bahamas has issued Tropical Storm Warnings for Central Bahamas and Northwestern Bahamas. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 12 hours.

At 10.00 a.m (EST) this morning (November 9, 2015) the centre of Tropical Storm Kate was located near latitude 24.5 North and longitude 75.3 West or about 15 miles East Northeast of Cat Island or about 170 miles South East of Great Abaco Island. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from north of the center. The system is moving toward the Northwest near 15 mph. A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast on Tuesday.

PROGNOSIS:
On the forecast track, the center of Kate is forecast to pass near or over portions of the Central Bahamas during the next few hours and near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas this afternoon and tonight.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue over portions of the central Bahamas for the next few hours and will spread over portions of the Northwestern Bahamas this afternoon. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours.

RAINFALL: Kate is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over the Bahamas through tonight.

NATIONAL ACTIONS:

Bahamas
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported the following:

• As at November 08th, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has been partially activated.
• All administrators on the Family Islands within the Warning areas have been contacted and are in a state of readiness, with preparations made.
• The public has been provided guidance on the newly designated shelters

REGIONAL ACTIONS:

• The CDEMA Coordinating Unit is in contact the NEMA.
• NEMA has indicated that no assistance is required at this time.
• CDEMA response teams are encouraged to be on alert.
• CDEMA will continue to monitor the system and provide updates as necessary.

CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number 1(246) 434-4880