We are in the clear as far as tropical activity in the Gulf, but strengthening Hurricane Joaquin has prompted Hurricane Warnings for the central Bahamas with hurricane conditions expected there in the next 24 to 36 hours. The center of the storm Wednesday afternoon was about 175 miles (285 kilometers) east-northeast of the central Bahamas and moving toward the southwest at 8 mph (13 kph).
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Joaquin could raise tides up to 4 feet (1.3 meters) above normal, create unsafe waves and bring up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain over San Salvador and Rum Cay in the Bahamas, the hurricane center said. This includes the Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence. The storm’s long-term path is still uncertain, but forecasters predict the tropical cyclone could pose a threat to the Mid-Atlantic or New England states.
Joaquin is expected to linger over the eastern Bahamas through Friday as a hurricane.
Hurricane Joaquin has the US East Coast in its sights, according to the storm’s latest projected track.
Still, the meteorologists are making their predictions: One report had the storm hitting Virginia and Maryland this weekend, another that it wouldn’t make landfall at all for the U.S. East Coast at this time.
“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion”, the hurricane center said about the Bahamas on Wednesday.
The area of most intense concern for Hurricane Joaquin is the mid-Atlantic, from North Carolina’s Outer Banks to New Jersey. A few say the most violent parts of the storm will stay offshore; others say it could make landfall, probably in the mid-Atlantic, this weekend.
A turn toward the northwest and a decrease in forward speed are forecast Thursday or Thursday night. A wide range of outcomes is possible, from major hurricane directly hitting the U.S. East Coast to Joaquin aiming out to sea.
Smaller systems are expected to linger Wednesday as a cold front moves through the area.
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The hurricane center on Wednesday took pains to caution that it’s just too early to tell.
