Heavy Rainfall Starting Friday, Hurricane Path Still Uncertain

Joaquin is now moving through the east-central Bahamas, and is a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 miles per hour. Forecasters said it has the potential to get stronger. “That is why we are activating the State’s Emergency Operations Center and positioning critical resources across the state as we learn more about this developing storm”. Friday, keep the umbrella with you and plan on a jacket with periods of rain and drizzle.

“The threat of direct impacts from Joaquin in the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states appears to be decreasing”, Senior Hurricane Specialist Daniel Brown said.

There is still high uncertainty concerning the forecast.

“We’re very concerned”, said Ellen McCafferty, a part-time Hutchinson Island resident who was reached Thursday at her home on Pine Beach along the Toms River in New Jersey. The Durham Police Department is also preparing for the severe weather, urging motorists and pedestrians to avoid driving or walking through flooded streets.

Still, its exact trajectory remains unclear, with one often-reliable European model indicating it could cut a path out to sea. “Confidence is growing in an out to sea solution and much improved weekend weather”. Tree service companies say they expect to be inundated with calls over the coming days.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Central Bahamas and Northwestern Bahamas including the Abacos, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence.

As of 5 a.m. Thursday, the center of Hurricane Joaquin was located near latitude 23.4 North, longitude 73.7 West. Joaquin is moving toward the west-southwest near 5 miles per hour, and this motion is expected to continue today. Even if Joaquin doesn’t make landfall, it will still bring excessive amounts of rainfall.

Sustained winds of up to 210 km/h (130mph) were reported in parts of the eastern Bahamas, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

It’s still too early to tell how the New York City area will be impacted by Hurricane Joaquin, which is projected to move up the East Coast over the next several days.

Robichaud said that the CHC is keeping a close eye on Joaquin after New Brunswick experienced heavy rains on Wednesday.