Hurricane Joaquin moving away from Bermuda

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that elevated water levels and big waves will affect the USA mid-Atlantic region, “causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding likely”.

“There’s still a distinct possibility that his could make landfall somewhere in the US”, said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and hurricane center spokesman. S. citizens and five from Poland. “We’re going to push it to the operational limits as far as we can”.

“The fact that there has been no communications is not good news”, Lloyd said.

Engineer Mike Holland, aboard the missing ship, is seen in this 2012 family photo taken after he graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy. On Saturday, Joaquin strengthened back to a Category 4, but distanced itself from the search area.

Florida-based TOTE Services, the ship’s owner, said in a brief statement that it was working with the U.S. Coast Guard and trying to establish communication with the ship.

The U.S. Coast Guard said search and rescue crews were hunting for the 735-foot (224 m) El Faro and its 33 crew members after it was overcome by heavy weather from Joaquin off Crooked Island in the Bahamas on Thursday morning.

There had been no reports of fatalities or injuries so far, said Capt. Stephen Russell, the director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency. He said he has had no communication with Acklins since late Thursday morning. The Tribune 242 website said dozens of people were trapped in their homes in the southern Bahamas. Joaquin could reach Bermuda — an island that, despite its location, tends to be missed by most tropical storms – early Monday as a Category 1 storm. Streets were largely deserted as people rem…

States along the eastern USA coast – many of whom have suffered heavy rains in recent days – have warned residents to take precautions. “God controls the storm”.

Joaquin’s centre was located about 160 miles (255 kilometres) north of Bermuda, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 60 miles (95 kilometres). Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48-hours.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in Portsmouth, Virginia, received an Inmarsat satellite notification stating the El Faro was beset by Hurricane Joaquin, had lost propulsion and had a 15-degree list.

Mr Hall went on to say that there would also be a marked contrast to the recent warm weather at the start of this week.

In addition, the entire East Coast will experience unsafe surf and rip currents through the weekend, he said.

During the day on Friday and Saturday, Joaquin is expected to turn to the north and then northeast and continue to weaken a bit. Recent hurricane hunter missions found surface winds of 100 miles per hour over the islands of the central Bahamas.

Meanwhile, authorities in the nearby Turks & Caicos Islands closed all airports, schools and government offices. Rescue workers searched for a missing cargo ship with 33 aboard off the Bahamas yesterday as Hurricane Joaquin battered the island chain, bringing life in the popular tourist destination to a drastic halt.