by Brian Major
Last updated: 2:06 PM ET, Thu October 1, 2015
Photo via Twitter/BMcNoldy
The Bahamas's resort districts were largely spared significant impact Thursday as Hurricane Joaquin, now a Category 3 storm, passed over the archipelago's eastern edge. A Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency official reported "minor flooding and storm surge" but no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage as Joaquin approached Samana Cays, Bahamas Thursday morning.
Forecasters expect the Bahamian islands of San Salvador, Cat Island and Rum Cay to experience the most significant effects from Joaquin's sustained 120-mile per hour winds before the storm shifts toward the north on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center advisory. Land-based resorts in the Bahamas' northern and central regions could be impacted as the storm progresses.
Thus far, resorts in Abaco, Grand Bahama and Nassau report no disruptions in their operations. "As always, the safety of guests and staff is the resort's first priority," said a spokeswoman for the Abaco Beach Resort. "At this time [the resort] is experiencing clear skies so they are continuing operations but they are mobilizing their preparedness plan to be ready for any eventuality," she said.
Muna Issa, vice president of operations for Breeze Bahamas parent company SuperClubs, tweeted the following:
Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) is open and international flights to and from the facility are operating. However, several regional carriers, including Bahamasair, Sky Bahamas and Southern Air, have canceled all flights to the central and southern Bahamas due to Joaquin, according to a statement on the airport website.
Joaquin's center will move near or over portions of the central Bahamas Thursday evening and pass near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas Friday. A hurricane warning is in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas including the Abacos, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island and New Providence, and for the Acklins, Crooked Island and Mayaguana in the southeastern Bahamas.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Bimini and Andros Island while a tropical storm warning is now in effect for the remainder of the southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Andros Island.
NOTE: This story was updated at 4:11 p.m. ET 10/1/15 to include Tweet from Muna Issa
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