A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the central Bahamas, southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands as Hurricane Hanna continues to strengthen.

As at 5.00pm, September 1, 2008,  the centre of Hanna a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale was located near latitude 22.2 north and longitude 72.6 west  or just east of Mayaguana island in the southeastern Bahamas.

Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph (130 km/hr) with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles 9II)km) to the northeast of the centre and tropical force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260km).
 
Rains have been affecting the Turks and Caicos since last night (August 31) and wind gusts of 61 mph were recently observed in the islands.

Forecasts indicate that Hanna is expected to move toward the south-southwest near 3mph (6km/hr) tonight and a gradual turn toward the west is expected tomorrow.. On this track Hanna will be moving over the southeastern and central Bahamas during the next couple of days and produce 4 to 8 inches of rain with isolated amounts of up to 12 inches over the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. 

The  Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands have activated their National Emergency Operations Centres and are closely monitoring the situation.

The Office of Disaster Management and Emergencies of the Turks and Caicos Islands has reported that the Airport is closed.

The Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) remains on standby.

CDERA will continue to monitor the situation and provide advisories as necessary.