page_title: Hurricane Kate (2015)
section_title: The Bahamas
hierarchical_section_title: Hurricane Kate (2015) / Preparations and impact / The Bahamas
caption_attribution_description: English: Tropical Storm Kate (12L) over the Bahamas
context_page_description: Hurricane Kate was the latest Atlantic hurricane to form in the basin since Hurricane Epsilon in 2005, as well as one of the northernmost November hurricanes on record. The eleventh and final named storm and hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, Kate formed out of a disorganized tropical wave that had moved off the coast of Africa on October 30. Unfavorable conditions prevented it from significantly organizing as it traversed the Atlantic. Once it neared the northern coast of Hispaniola on November 7, it began to become somewhat better organized. The next day it developed into a tropical depression; shortly afterwards it developed into Tropical Storm Kate. Kate moved northwest around an area of high pressure, gradually strengthening. On November 11, it intensified into a hurricane while simultaneously peaking in intensity. Shortly afterwards, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.
  Kate caused minor impacts in the Bahamas, other than gusty winds and some rain showers as it passed just to the east on November 9. It also caused minor surf along the East Coast of the United States.
context_section_description: Still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Joaquin nearly a month prior, residents were advised on November 8, before Kate had  formed, to take more precautions in the event that warnings were issued. New shelters were opened for the expected areas to be impacted by the then-precursor to Kate.  Ahead of the storm, on November 9, a tropical storm warning was issued for the northern portions of the Bahamas as Kate was expected to pass fairly close to the island chain. However, effects were not as bad as expected, due to the storm's circulation being very small. Because of this, some islands did not even report tropical storm-force winds as Kate passed to the east. The warnings were later discontinued as the storm moved away from the area.
  On November 9, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced that they would closely monitor the progress of the tropical storm, after a Level II Activation code was put into effect. NEMA Captain Stephen Russell advised residents that local administrators had been informed of the impending storm, to enforce that local disaster committees were prepared, and to have shelters opened, in case an evacuation needed to be ordered for low-lying areas, partially those near the outskirts of the island. In northern Eleuthera, the  Glass Window Bridge was shut down in advance of tropical storm conditions. One of the airline services in the Bahamas, Bahamasair, later stated that a flight from Nassau to San Salvador would be delayed by day to early on November 10 due to the weather conditions. Further changes regarding flights to other areas in the Bahamas were stated as being issued in the case that conditions worsened.
  That same day, public schools in Cat Island and San Salvador were closed due to the passing of Kate just to the north, advising students and staff to remain safe. In addition, schools in Eleuthera also closed at noon in advance.
caption: Tropical Storm Kate over the Bahamas on November 9
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