Hurricane Joaquin threatens East Coast refineries

Hurricane Joaquin, a Category 4 storm that is now battering the central Bahamas, appears to be replacing its eye, according to weather forecasters.

Larry Hogan rescinded the state of emergency in eight counties Friday as weather predictions say Hurricane Joaquin is expected to hit off the East Coast.

The Cuban government issued a tropical storm warning for the provinces of Camaguey, Los Tunas, Holguin, and Guantanamo.

Sand and sand bags will be available at Friday for Baltimore residents and businesses at Broadway and Thames Streets; Broadway Square; the former ESPN Zone, and Rash Field, the mayor’s office said.

Joaquin continues to slowly move through the Bahamas, but the system is now moving northwestward and it’s forward speed is expected to pick up during the next 12 hours.

The U.S.-flagged ship El Faro, carrying the Americans and five others, was missing Friday near the Bahamas after it sent a distress signal a day earlier to the U.S. Coast Guard. There have been no reports of fatalities or injuries, Capt. Stephen Russell, the director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency told the Associated Press.

The storm is now expected to pass offshore Monday, far enough to the east to have no direct effect on the Island, other than contributing to higher seas and rougher ocean conditions, said David Stark, National Weather Service meteorologist based in Upton.

It is the third hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic season.

Joaquin was about 80 miles (125 kilometers) south-southeast of San Salvador. It’s moving north at 3 miles per hour (6 kph).

The data collected gives the National Hurricane Center more information on storms to provide better forecasts.

Somewhat similar to the situation that region is dealing with now, a frontal boundary and the remnants of a tropical cyclone (also a “J” storm-Hurricane Juan) interacted, creating an area of enhanced rainfall across the New River Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Piedmont of Virginia.

A potentially catastrophic Category 4 hurricane on a scale of 1 to 5, Joaquin was predicted to make a sharp northerly turn on Friday before gradually losing strength over cooler water. The storm is about 10 miles (15 kilometers) north of Rum Cay, Bahamas. To help analysts assess potential storm effects, EIA maintains an energy disruptions map that displays energy infrastructure and real-time storm information.

Moisture from Joaquin is being pumped into a weather system stalled along the coast. Forecasters say a few fluctuations in intensity are possible Friday.