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Tropical Storm Nicole is strengthening and can become a hurricane when it reaches the northern Bahamas, meteorologists warned.

Abaco and Grand Bahama are in the direct pathway of the storm and are under hurricane watch, while Andros, New Providence, the Berry Islands and Eleuthera are expected to feel the effects of the storm which is packing 45-mile-per-hour winds.

Nicole is predicted to reach the northwestern Bahamas on Tuesday and move over those islands on Wednesday. Up to six inches of rain was expected across the region from Tuesday through Thursday.

The storm will then head toward Florida’s east coast by Wednesday night.

In preparation, the government issued a hurricane watch for the northwestern Bahamas, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper urged residents to prepare. “Please do not take this storm lightly.

“Nicole poses an imminent threat to the islands under warning. Everyone must prepare for the worst.”

Power outage interrupts the update on Tropical Storm Isaias, that officials warned could reach the Bahamas over the weekend.

With officials gathered at the National Emergency Management Agency Headquarters on Gladstone Road on Thursday evening, screens went black and radios were blanked about twenty minutes into the press conference, .

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis was present as he told viewers about the seriousness of the tropical storm, telling them to “prepare for the worst”.

For nearly 10 minutes viewers waited for the address to continue.

The address resumed shortly after.

This blackout comes after Bahamas Power and Light advised the public that Central Westridge and Westridge Drive would experience disruption in electricity supply as a result of routine maintenance exercises on Wednesday.

Customers complained that it continued into Thursday, confirming that Blake Road was affected as well.

BPL did not give an explanation for the blackout in Gladstone Road on Thursday evening.

As Tropical Storm Isaias (ees-ah-EE-ahs) move from the ocean north of Hispanola and head to the Bahamas, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology has announced a hurricane warning for the central and northwest Bahamas while a tropical storm warning is in effect for the southeast Bahamas.

Hurricane warning was issued for the Exumas, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, New Providence, Eleuthera, Bimini, Berry Islands, Grand Bahama, Andros and Abaco.

Tropical storm warning was issued for Acklins, Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana, Samana Cay and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

These islands should feel the effects of the storm in the next 36 hours according to Director of Bahamas Metereology Trevor Basden.

Basden said all of the islands will be affected by Tropical Storm Isaias with a high probability of development into a hurricane, accompanied with lots of rain.

He said most of the streets of New Providence will be flooded, adding that low lying areas may be impassable.

Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell said people living in such areas should monitor the system closely and make plans to take refuge in a shelter or a secure area.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis at the National Emergency Management Agency Press Conference on Thursday evening said citizens should prepare and take the threats seriously, while preparing for the worst as storms are unpredictable.

He announced a number of new measures as the country also battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

The weekend lockdown that was imposed to curb spread of the virus will be relaxed to allow for storm preparation. Curfew will be amended and will be imposed from 10pm to 5am beginning on Friday and will remain in effect until further notice.

He said the weekend lockdown is necessary following the passage of the Bahamas, as data show that much stronger protection and mitigating measures are necessary, as there is a dangerous surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Food stores, water depots, gas stations and pharmacies will open on Saturday until 8pm. Hardware storms will be permitted to open on Friday and Saturday until 8pm.

Government offices will close at noon on Friday to allow citizens to prepare for the impending storm.

Picture Credit: Forbes