Tropical Storm Hanna 3-day forecast track. NHC/NOAA graphic

By Tess Hennigan
Caribbean Net News Staff Reporter
Email: tess@caribbeannetnews.com  

GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands: Tropical Storm Hanna is finally moving out of the Bahamas as it heads northward towards the United States, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for central and northwestern Bahamas.

At 8:00p.m. EDT Thursday, the centre of Tropical Storm Hanna was located 75 miles east-southeast of Marsh Harbor, Bahamas and 580 miles south-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, US, moving toward the northwest near 14 mph.

The system is expected to continue moving toward the northwest during the next 24 to 36 hours, with a turn to the north expected late on Friday.

Current maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph, accompanied by occasional higher gusts, with tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 315 miles, mainly to the north and east of the centre.

Tropical Storm Hanna could strengthen slightly prior to landfall, making it possible for the system to regain hurricane status.

If Hanna continues on the forecast track, the centre of the storm will pass just east of the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday night.

With Tropical Storm Hanna bidding farewell to the Caribbean, it is time to begin closely monitoring Hurricane Ike, which is currently located 505 miles north-northeast of the Leeward Islands, and is expected to have an impact on the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos within days.