Leader of the Opposition Dr. Hubert Minnis on the ground assessing damage…..

Sandy weakens a little as she slowly moves northward and away from Abaco

Hurricane warnings have been discontinued for Grand Bahama and Abaco and tropical storm warnings are now in effect for Grand Bahama and Abaco.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours.

The all clear has been given for the remainder of the Northwest Bahamas and the Central Bahamas.

At 2:00 p.m. the center of Hurricane Sandy was located near latitude 27.1 degrees north and longitude 77.1 degrees west. This puts the center of Sandy about 30 miles north-northeast of Marsh Harbour, Abaco, 90 miles east of Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Sandy is moving toward the north near 7 miles per hour and a general northward motion is expected to continue today and tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed on Saturday, and a turn toward the northeast on Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of sandy will continue to move away from the northwestern Bahamas tonight.

Maximum sustained winds remain have decreased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. Sandy is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. No significant change is expected during the next day or so.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 275 miles from the center.

Hurricane conditions will continue in Abaco and Grand Bahama for the next several hours.

Storm surge as much as 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels is expected within the warning areas.

Residents in Grand Bahama and abaco are advised to remain indoors until the all-clear signal is given.

Boaters should remain in port and their boats should be safely moored in the warning areas.