This is the first news we’ve had from our friends at Explorer Chartbooks – long the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits – and we are delighted that they have survived Matthew. Explorer Chartbooks is A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER!

Bahamas Chatter: “Report from Staniel Cay, Exumas” plus 1 more
Report from Staniel Cay, Exumas
Posted: 06 Oct 2016 10:33 AM PDT
Thursday morning:
Good morning! – and it is a GOOD one. The worst is past, and there have been no VHF reports of extreme or emergency situations. It is still raining on and off; winds are still high, approx 70, but apparently ALL have made it OK. Nobody slept, the howling was even louder than the thunder, with branches and debris hitting the roof. The eye stayed 40 miles or so offshore, and that help keep the wind speed down a bit. Also was worst at mid – low tide. A few are braving the wind and doing a quick check. Some shingles off their houses, trees, branches, debris everywhere. More later. They will have their hands full with clean-up. Power still off, but has had internet! Another amazement!! We are all very grateful!

Hurricane Matthew Pounds Bahamas
Posted: 06 Oct 2016 07:55 AM PDT
Excerpt from Weather Underground blog by Dr. Jeff Masters with reports from Great Exuma and Staniel Cay.

Read the full article here:

https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=3467

Excerpt: [expand title =”Read More”]

The Bahamas getting pounded
At 2:19 am EDT Thursday, winds at a personal weather station (PWS) on Staniel Cay, Exumas, located in the strong right eyewall of Matthew, about 30 miles east-northeast of hurricane’s center, peaked at 92 mph, gusting to 101 mph. The pressure bottomed out at 984 mb at that time, and 12.95” of rain fell in the 7-hour period midnight to 7 am EDT.

WU member ExumaMET reported this from the island of Exuma, which Matthew sideswiped on Wednesday evening: Morning all. It was an intense night here. I recorded Sustained winds over 100 and gusts way into category 4 strength with one gust hitting 153mph before something took out my instrument. We’re still in tropical storm force and it should be interesting to see what the island looks like as the sun comes up.

The dangerous right front quadrant with Matthew’s highest winds began pounding the most populous island in The Bahamas, New Providence, on Thursday morning around 8 am EDT. Winds at 9 am EDT at the Nassau airportwere 58 mph, gusting to 85 mph, and the pressure was falling rapidly. Extreme winds are the main danger on New Providence, though a storm surge of up to ten feet is possible. Fortunately, the capital of Nassau is on the more protected north side of the island, which is less vulnerable to storm surge. High tide is at 11:46 am EDT, and the highest storm surge will likely arrive shortly before then. Tidal range between low tide and high tide is about two feet, so the timing of the high tide relative to a possible ten-foot storm surge can contribute up to a 20% increase in the observed storm tide (the height of the water above ground.)

The weaker left-side eyewall of Matthew will be punishing Andros Island late Thursday morning and into Thursday afternoon. Late Thursday afternoon, it will be Grand Bahama Island’s turn to receive a beating.

Figure 2. Enhanced infrared image of Matthew as of 8:37 am EDT Thursday, October 6, 2016.