Eyewitness News Meteorologist Pete Mangione said the newest track of Hurricane Joaquin has edged the storm to move away from the Carolina coast and take more of an easterly track to the Jersey Shore.
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A unsafe storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels in the Central Bahamas in areas of onshore flow. “Any locals planning to travel toward the east coast, especially the Carolinas and northward, over the next week should monitor the weather closely if they want to avoid hurricane or tropical storm conditions”. This storm will continue drifting slowly southwest and continue moving over portions of the Central Bahamas on Thursday and Friday.
At the same time, officials estimate the storm could impact more than 65 million people, AccuWeather reports.
The turn north, which could happen as soon as tonight, aims it at North Carolina and the mid-Atlantic, where residents are preparing for at least a side swipe from Joaquin if not a direct hit.
A hurricane watch was in effect for Bimini and Andros Island.
Hurricane Joaquin is a Category 4 storm with winds of over 130 miles per hour right now in the Bahamas. “Be aware that flooding from heavy rain, damaging winds, and tidal flooding will be possible Sunday into Monday“.
Joaquin is now a Category 4 hurricane.
Authorities in the Bahamas were bracing for contact with the storm and the center was supposed to pass near or over the islands overnight or Thursday.
By that time, Joaquin could have 140 miles per hour winds capable of causing catastrophic damage, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. It is forecast to speed up and move north in the next few days for a possible encounter with the U.S. East Coast.
· Even if it doesn’t make landfall, “strong onshore winds will create minor to moderate coastal flooding along the coasts of the mid-Atlantic and northeastern states through the weekend”, according to the National Weather Service.
While Joaquin is crossing over lightly populated areas now, there is concern that Joaquin’s path could place the storm near the U.S. East Coast by this weekend. For now, the National Hurricane Center is going down the middle of this forecast road.
Hurricane Joaquin is continuing to puzzle forecasters.
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Rain will return to the Central Florida forecast on Thursday.
