Hurricane Joaquin has the potential to reach the eastern United States coast this weekend, but there is still the possibility that the storm goes out to sea. The east coast of Florida is expected to be missed but it could be a real mess all along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston.
Even if the storm remains offshore, moisture from the storm will still get pulled into the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas, which will likely lead to heavy rainfall and flooding.
Hurricane Joaquin is rapidly intensifying. Joaquin reached Category 3 status late Wednesday evening. The storm is now expected to strengthen into a Category 4 storm on Thursday night.
After it passes just northeast of the Bahamas Thursday, Joaquin will begin to turn north and parallel the East Coast on Friday and Saturday.
The storm will bring pounding surf, dangerous seas, strong winds, drenching squalls and flash flooding to the central Bahamas. Wind gusts could reach between 75 and 100 mph on some of the islands.
As a result, Joaquin will threaten lives and property in the Bahamas through Thursday, before turning northward. Bahamasair has cancelled flights for Thursday in parts of the islands.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe issued a state of emergency on Wednesday night throughout the entire state in response to the recent flooding and in preparation for Joaquin.
Joaquin will move northward much of this weekend, roughly paralleling the East Coast. There is nearly equal possibility the storm will make landfall along the mid-Atlantic coast, the New England coast or veer out to sea.
Because of the potential close proximity of the hurricane to the coast, people from North Carolina to Massachusetts will need to closely monitor the track and strength of Joaquin.
Exactly where the system rolls ashore and progresses inland will define the worst conditions in terms of wind and flooding. It is too early to say for sure exactly where Joaquin may move onshore but it clearly must be followed.
