NASSAU, Bahamas -- Alert #10 on Hurricane Sandy issued by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology on Tuesday, October 24, 2012 at 3 p.m.

Hurricane Sandy is approaching the southeastern coast of Jamaica.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for the Northwest Bahamas, which includes Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, The Berry Islands, Andros, Eleuthera and New Providence.

And a hurricane watch also remains in effect for the Central Bahamas, which includes Exuma, Cat Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Long Island.

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the watch area in 48 hours.

Tropical storm watch remains in effect for the Southeast Bahamas, which includes Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the watch area in 48 hours.

Sandy has shifted to a course of due north thus increasing the threat to the islands in the Central and Northwest Bahamas but diminishing the immediate threat to the islands in the Southeast Bahamas.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Central Bahamas that includes Exuma, Cat Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Long Island.

Tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions can be expected within 36 hours.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the Northwest Bahamas that includes Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, the Berry Islands, Andros, Eleuthera and New Providence. A

a watch means that tropical storm conditions could affect the mentioned islands within 48 hours.

At 5a.m. the center of Tropical Storm Sandy was located near latitude 16.3 degrees north and longitude 77.0 degrees west or about 120 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica and about 363 miles south-southwest of Ragged Island.