Hurricane Joaquin rapidly grew in strength Wednesday night, generating winds at speeds in excess of 111 miles per hour and elevating it to a Category 3 hurricane shortly after the storm had been classified Category 2.
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The U.S. National Hurricane Center says additional strengthening is expected over the next two days.
As of 5 p.m. EDT, a hurricane warning was in effect for the northwestern and central Bahamas, a hurricane watch was broadcasted for Bimini, and a tropical storm warning was in place for the southeastern Bahamas.
While our forecast remains cloudy across the Midstate today with just light showers, Hurricane Joaquin continues to strengthen near the Central Bahamas. Precipitation of up to 10 inches is forecast over other parts of the central Bahamas. The track and situation regarding Joaquin could change as the varying models come together.
“We are monitoring the storm closely, and our state emergency management officials have been in regular contact with the national weather service”.
The storm is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 storm as it moves past the Bahamas and eventually turns northward.
“One of the computer models that was pulling Joaquin directly into North Carolina has shifted it offshore a bit, so the National Hurricane Center has shifted its track”, Gardner said.
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Although newly formed Hurricane Joaquin is projected to remain clear of Florida, it likely will produce a few large swells and minor beach erosion along the state’s east coast. However, forecasters were still gathering data trying to determine how it might affect the United States. But while the hurricane’s path is far from certain, it’s all still up for grabs, Terry said. “I cannot stress enough the imperative for Virginians to focus on the rainstorms that are headed our way tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday, well before Hurricane Joaquin could potentially impact Virginia”, he said. It will be as if a garden hose has been pointed at the East Coast, from Charlotte, North Carolina to Portland, Maine. It should be near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas Thursday night or Friday. Residents on the East Coast should pay close attention to the forecast now through the weekend, Weather.com advised. “Several inches of rain can be expected through Friday and beyond, which will bring concerns of flash flooding”, National Weather Service meteorologist Amanda Fanning said in an online forecast.
