ALERT #1 ON TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4
ALERT #1 ON TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY SATURDAY 23RD AUGUST 2014 AT 6PM EDT.
…..TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4 FORMS OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.…
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY, SAN SALVADOR, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA…..IN THIS CASE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
AT 5 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4 WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.8 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGTITUDE 72.3 WEST OR OVER PROVIDENCIALES IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS OR ABOUT 45 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MAYAGUANA AND 60 MILES NORTHEAST OF INAGUA.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4 IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MILES PER HOUR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY…..FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF THE DEPRESSION WILL CONTINUE MOVING NEAR OR OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS TONIGHT AND PASS NEAR OR OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS AND THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM BY SUNDAY.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4 IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS, THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS THROUGH TUESDAY.
RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD BEGIN AND COMPLETE THE NECESSARY PREPERATION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY PRIMARILY FROM FLOODING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS AND WINDS OF UP TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL DEPRESSION #4 WILL BE ISSUED AT 9 PM EDT.
Special Weather Bulletin #4
The National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida continues to advise:
An 80% Chance of Tropical Cyclone Formation in 48 Hours.
As of 10:25am EDT/Saturday/23/August/2014... Updated reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft and satellite imagery indicate that the disturbance located near Hispaniola continues to lack a well-defined surface circulation. As a result, advisories are not being initiated at this time. Another Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system this afternoon.
Environmental conditions still remain quite favorable for this disturbance to develop into a tropical depression or tropical storm later today or Sunday. It is forecast to move west-northwestward over or near the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas today, and over or near the Central Bahamas Sunday and Sunday night.
Winds to tropical storm force and heavy rains are expected to spread over the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas, and over the Central Bahamas through Sunday night. Therefore, Residents and interests in the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast and Central Bahamas are advised to begin and to complete storm preparations as soon as possible and to expect and be prepared for widespread flooding in low lying areas.
Small craft are advised to remain in port.
Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be required with little advance notice… so residents and interests in the Turks & Caicos Islands and all of The Bahama Islands should continue to monitor the progress of this disturbance.
Special Weather Bulletin #3
The National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida is still advising:
80% Chance of Tropical Cyclone Formation in 48 Hours.
As of 8:00am EDT/Saturday/23/August/2014... Satellite imagery indicates that a surface circulation could be organizing near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic in association with the area of disturbed weather near Hispaniola. This system continues to produce shower and thunderstorm activity, and environmental conditions are favorable for the development of a tropical depression or tropical storm today or Sunday. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is currently investigating the system.
This system is forecast to move west-northwestward over or near the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas today, and over or near the Central Bahamas on Sunday.
Winds to tropical storm force and heavy rains are expected to spread over the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Southeast Bahamas, and the Central Bahamas through Sunday. These rains could cause widespread flooding in low lying areas.
Stay with RTC via this website or via our twitter & Facebook for updates.
Special Weather Bulletin For the TCI & BAHAMAS
The National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida is still advising:
80% Chance of Tropical Cyclone Formation in 48 Hours.
As of 8:00am EDT/Saturday/23/August/2014... Satellite imagery indicates that a surface circulation could be organizing near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic in association with the area of disturbed weather near Hispaniola. This system continues to produce shower and thunderstorm activity, and environmental conditions are favorable for the development of a tropical depression or tropical storm today or Sunday. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is currently investigating the system.
This system is forecast to move west-northwestward over or near the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas today, and over or near the Central Bahamas on Sunday.
Winds to tropical storm force and heavy rains are expected to spread over the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Southeast Bahamas, and the Central Bahamas through Sunday. These rains could cause widespread flooding in low lying areas.
A 80% Chance of Tropical Storm Formation
A SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 11:00PM EDT FRIDAY 22ND AUGUST, 2014.
A 80% Chance of Tropical Storm Formation in 48 Hours.
As of 8:00 pm EDT/Friday/22/August/2014... An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigating the area of disturbed weather near Puerto Rico and Hispaniola reported winds of tropical storm force over the open waters north of those islands. However, the aircraft data and surface observations indicate that the system still lacks a well-defined surface circulation. Another Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system on Saturday morning, if necessary.
Showers and thunderstorms associated with the system are gradually becoming better organized, but the proximity of the system to Hispaniola could limit development tonight. Conditions are expected to become more conducive for development when the disturbance moves near or over the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas on Saturday.
Gusty winds and heavy rains are expected across the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast and Central Bahamas tonight and Saturday. These heavy rains will most likely cause extensive flooding in low lying areas.
Residents and interests in the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeast and Central Bahamas are advised to begin and to complete storm preparations as soon as possible since Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be required with little advance notice.
SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR THE TCI & BAHAMAS
A SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 4:00PM EDT FRIDAY 22ND AUGUST, 2014.
A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT AND SATELLITE DATA INDICATED THAT SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE BETWEEN PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAS INCREASED DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE CONDUCIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OR TROPICAL STORM WHILE NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS OR OVER THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS ON SATURDAY.
HOWEVER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE SYSTEM BECOMES A TROPICAL CYCLONE, HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.
THEREFORE, RESIDENTS IN THE TURKS AND THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM VERY CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION AS TROPICAL STORM WATCHES OR WARNINGS COULD BE REQUIRED WITH SHORT NOTICE.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE TCI & BAHAMAS FOR FRIDAY 22ND AUGUST 2014
GENERAL SITUATION: A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE TCI & NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. ELSEWHERE, ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE WILL BEGIN AFFECTING THE BAHAMAS THIS EVENING.
FOR THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY OFFSHORE THIS AFTERNOON. MOSTLY FAIR AND WARM TONIGHT
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS, BUT FALLING LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT TIMES ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY WITH FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. CLOUDY TO OVERCAST AND WINDY WITH WIDESPREAD RAIN AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
WINDS: NORTHEASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS
SEAS: 5 TO 8 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL AREAS
IN THE TCI
DAYTIME HIGH TEMP: 93F 34C OVERNIGHT LOW TEMP: 79F 26C
SUNSET: 7:38PM SUNRISE: 6:47AM SAT
MOONSET: 5:40PM MOONRISE: 5:06AM SAT
HIGH TIDE: 6:48PM LOW TIDE: 1:12AM SAT
HIGH TIDE: 7:04AM SAT
WEATHER OUTLOOK: 11:00AM TROPICAL WAVE POSSIBLE DEPRESSION WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: RESIDENTS IN THE TCI & SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS ARE BEING ASKED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE TROPICAL DISTURBANCE APPROACHING THE AREA FOR POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE WEEKEND.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2014
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2014
GENERAL SITUATION IN TCI: TROPICAL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WHILE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE ISLANDS MAINTAINS THE BREEZY CONDITIONS
FOR THE BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON…TURNING WARM AND HUMID TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS ARE EXPECTED IN AND AROUND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
TCI
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 93°F 34°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 78°F 26°C
SUNSET: 07:39 PM MOONSET: 04:58 PM HIGH TIDE: 06:04 PM
SUNRISE: 06:47 AM MOONRISE: 04:16 AM LOW TIDE: 12:30 PM
HIGH TIDE: 06:21 AM FRI.
LOW TIDE: 12:28 PM FRI.
WEATHER OUTLOOK: MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT CONDITIONS WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELONGATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED ABOUT 350 MILES EAST OT THE LESSER ANTILLES HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION. IT HAS A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS AND A 70 PERCENT CHANCE OF DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS
Cabinet advised the Governor to maintain Daylight Savings Time
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 21st meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 13th August 2014 at the Office of the Premier, Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except; Hon. Deputy Premier, Hon. Minister of Health and Hon. Minister of Government Support Services.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the Immigration Bill 2014. The Bill will proceed to the House of Assembly in due course;
• Agreed the draft National Honours and Awards Regulations 2014. The draft regulations will be laid before the House of Assembly for approval;
• Cabinet advised HE the Governor to maintain Daylight Savings Time as the standard time of the islands. The decision follows consultation with the public and key stakeholders in the aviation and tourism sectors, which revealed tremendous support for the proposal. This will mean that time in the Islands will not change on November 2, 2014 when the United States of America reverts to Eastern Standard time.
RTC News will have more during our newscast.
Ministry of Education CSEC 2014 Results
The Ministry of Education, Youth Sports and Library Services congratulates all the successful candidates who sat the May/June 2014 CSEC examinations. For this year, a total of 2030 candidates were entered, of which comprised 767 males and 1263 females. Out of that total, 1775 (639 males & 1136 females) sat exams in various disciplines such as Mathematics, English- A&B, Sciences, Food and Home Management, Technical Courses, as well as the Arts, Modern Languages, Business, and Information Technology.
Based on the data, 1356 or 76.39% of the candidates obtained Grades I-III. The national pass rate of 76.39 represents an increase of 3.81 percentage points, when compared to 2013 pass rate of 72.58. The following overall passing grades were obtained as a percentage of the number of persons who sat the examinations:
Grade I=15.21% Grade II=30.54% Grade III=30.65%.
A further break down of the key subjects is as followed:
Mathematics General Proficiency: Of the 212 candidates, 116 or 54.72% obtained passing grades of I-III. Of this figure, 6.6% obtained Grade I, 18.87% Grade II and 29.25% Grade III. When compared to 2013 pass rate of 31.54, this year represents a tremendous increase of 23.18 percent.
English A General Proficiency: Of the 291 candidates, 196 or 67.35% obtained passing grades of I-III. Of this figure, 12.37% obtained Grade I, 23.02% Grade II, and 31.96% Grade III. When compared to 2013 pass rate of 67.21%, there was an increase of 0.14 percent, which in essence remained flat. Table 1, provides a breakdown of the other subjects.
|
Subjects (General Proficiency) |
No. of Students obtaining Grades I-III |
% Passes |
|
Chemistry |
28 |
73.68 |
|
Biology |
44 |
80 |
|
Human & Social Biology |
53 |
66.25 |
|
Caribbean History |
21 |
56.75 |
|
Clothing & Textiles |
24 |
80 |
|
Economics |
2 |
100 |
|
English B |
47 |
75.80 |
|
Food and Nutrition |
79 |
97.53 |
|
French |
7 |
70 |
|
Geography |
16 |
59.25 |
|
Home Economic Management |
59 |
96.72 |
|
Information Technology |
90 |
89.1 |
|
Integrated Science |
73 |
93.58 |
|
Music |
9 |
100 |
|
Office Administration |
44 |
91.66 |
|
Physics |
31 |
83.78 |
|
Principles of Accounts |
29 |
76.31 |
|
Principles of Business |
62 |
95.38 |
|
Religious Education |
19 |
95 |
|
Social Studies |
82 |
59.42 |
|
Spanish |
32 |
71.11 |
|
Technical Drawing |
38 |
86.36 |
|
Visual Arts |
27 |
100 |
|
EDPM |
51 |
91.07 |
|
Physical Education |
24 |
100 |
|
Building Technology (Construction): TVET |
12 |
92.30 |
|
Building Tech (Woods)TVET |
32 |
96.96 |
|
Electrical and Electronics TVET |
9 |
69.23 |
It is important to highlight noteworthy performances in subjects such as Integrated Science, Food and Nutrition, Principle of Business, Building Technology, Technical Drawing, Physical Education, and Integrated Science all with a pass rate of over 90%. Of note also are the high pass rates in the pure Sciences, Chemistry, Biology and Physics with pass rates of over 70%.
The Ministry of Education will conduct a more detailed analysis of the CSEC results for publishing at a later date.
In ensuring that needed resources are provided to strengthen educational outcomes in the Turks and Caicos, the Ministry has committed to the provision of funds for teachers to undertake professional developments in areas of best practices to gauge their professional development this will indeed continue to improve overall performance by our students.
The Ministry also wants to acknowledge all the stakeholders who have played their part in the education of the Nation’s youth and will continue to partner with them to ensure that avenues for cutting edge educational opportunities are provided here in the TCI.