Forecasters said yesterday the effects of Tropical Storm Ernesto were expected to fully disappear from The Bahamas by tomorrow, but air and sea travel was affected by the weather system yesterday with some cancellations also expected today.
Bahamians attempting to come home from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale today will have to remain in Florida as officials said airports in those cities will be closed for the next 24 hours as Tropical Storm Ernesto passes over that area.
During a press briefing at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday, Basil Smith, senior director of communications at the Ministry of Tourism, said that while domestic service had not been interrupted, several airlines and cruise companies have suspended their services.
Fort Lauderdale Airport suspended service in and out at 6pm yesterday. Bahamasairﾒs last flight into Florida left at 3:45pm yesterday and service was suspended to Fort Lauderdale and South Florida until further notice.
American Eagle and Gulf Stream suspended all flights yesterday and today into South Florida.
Spirit Airlines flights into Fort Lauderdale were diverted into Orlando and plans were made to get passengers to their destinations from that location.
All other airlines that fly to The Bahamas from other U.S destinations were not cancelled, according to Mr. Smith.
He also reported that the ports in Miami and Port Everglades were closed yesterday and today as a result of the storm.
Carnival Cruise Line announced cancellation of its vessels, including Fascination, Celebration and Inspiration to New Providence and Grand Bahama.
Carnivalﾒs Sensation ship was scheduled to leave New Providence at 10pm yesterday.
Royal Caribbeanﾒs Majesty of the Seas also cancelled sailing to New Providence yesterday and Discovery Cruise Line was docked in Grand Bahama and was scheduled to remain there for 24 hours.
Mr. Smith also said that if American passengers were stranded as a result of the cancellations the Hotel Associationﾒs policy is to accommodate guests in times of despair.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Commander Herbert Bain, NEMAﾒs logistics and operations manager, reiterated a warning to boaters to remain docked.
“Thunderstorms of this nature often create significant challenges as it relates to safe navigation, so boaters are advised to take the necessary precautionﾅ Boaters are advised to take off their engines because itﾒs the most valuable part of the vessel so it should be protected,” Mr. Bain warned.
Senior Deputy Director at the Department of Meteorology Trevor Basden said due to the storm traveling in warm water forecasters expected it to intensify.
“The rain is already affecting Abaco and is moving to Grand Bahama,” he said after noon yesterday.
“We should also expect heavy rainfall in New Providence throughout the day, but when it comes to Bimini and the Berry Islands we are looking at rainfall being more intense and winds increasing to about 20 to 25 miles per hour,” Mr. Basden said.
Seas were expected to be five to eight feet and six to nine feet at times with winds 15 to 25 miles per hour in Grand Bahama, Bimini and the Berry Islands.
On Sunday, Ernesto briefly developed into a category one hurricane, but regained its tropical storm status hours later.
“The storm was not deflected to the east as was previously anticipated and that really saved us because had it gone into the warmer waters at this point it would have definitely developed into a hurricane and affected parts of The Bahamas,” Mr. Basden said.
Grand Bahama, Bimini and the Berry Islands should be experiencing storm conditions today.
Exuma and Ragged Island residents can breathe a sigh of relief as officials have discontinued tropical storm warnings for those islands.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
