Tropical Storm NOEL Set to Hit Bahamas

Nassau Bahamas – Storm watchers are keeping a close eye on the islands of The Bahamas as Tropical Storm Noel moves off the northern coast of Cuba, putting the central and northern islands of the Bahamas into storm warning effect. At 5 PM this afternoon the following advisory was placed into effect as residents around the Northern and Central Islands kick preparations into high gear.

All non-essential public offices closed at 2PM this afternoon and all schools remain close. The National Flag carrier suspended all its flight to the southern Bahamas and had flown its aircraft to Orlando, until weather conditions subside.

Due to Tropical Storm Noel, the United States Embassy will be closed on Wednesday October 31st and Thursday November 1st 2007. The Embassy will reopen on Friday, November 2nd and will be providing normal consular services. Visa applicants with interviews scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday, may come to the Embassy on either Friday, November 2nd or Monday through Wednesday, November 5 – 7, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. to apply for their visas. There is no need to reschedule your appointment, unless you are unable to apply during these substitute days. If you need to reschedule outside of the dates and times above, please send an email to visanassau@state.gov.

If you are an American Citizen in need of emergency assistance, please contact the duty officer at 242-322-1181, ext. 4311.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM NOEL ADVISORY NUMBER  13
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL162007
500 PM EDT TUE OCT 30 2007

...NOEL STILL CENTERED INLAND OVER CUBA...

AT 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS EXTENDED THE
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR CUBA WESTWARD AND SOUTHWARD.  A TROPICAL
STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF SANCTI
SPIRITUS...CIEGO DE AVILA...CAMAGUEY...LAS TUNAS...GRANMA...
HOLGUIN...SANTIAGO DE CUBA...AND GUANTANAMO.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND
NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.

INTERESTS IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF NOEL.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH COULD BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NOEL WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.0 WEST OR ABOUT 30
MILES... 45 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CAMAGUEY CUBA AND ABOUT 280
MILES...450 KM...SOUTH OF NASSAU.

NOEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 8 MPH...13 KM/HR.  A GRADUAL
TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  ON
THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF NOEL IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OVER CUBA
TODAY AND TONIGHT...BUT EMERGE OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF CUBA
TOMORROW.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280
KM...MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1001 MB...29.56 INCHES.

ABOVE NORMAL TIDES ARE LIKELY WITHIN THE WARNING AREAS.

NOEL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20
INCHES OVER HISPANIOLA...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM TOTALS OF
30 INCHES.  TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH POSSIBLE
MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEASTERN CUBA
AND THE BAHAMAS.  THESE RAINS...PARTICULARLY IN HISPANIOLA... ARE
EXPECTED TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.

REPEATING THE 500 PM EDT POSITION...21.0 N...78.0 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST NEAR 8 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 800 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100
PM EDT.