Dangerous Hurricane Joaquin Meandering Over The Central Bahamas
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Joaquin meandering over the Central Bahamas.
Hurricane conditions to continue over the Central Bahamas through early Friday.
At 11 p.m., the center of the storm was located about 20 miles east-southeast of Clarence Town Long Island in the Bahamas and 75 miles south of San Salvador.
Joaquin's maximum sustained winds were near 130 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible tonight and Friday, with some fluctuations in intensity possible Friday night and Saturday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.
Joaquin is moving toward the west near 3 mph. A turn toward the north is expected on Friday, and a faster motion toward the north or north-northeast is expected Friday night and Saturday. On the forecast track, the core of strongest winds of Joaquin will move near or over portions of the central Bahamas tonight and pass near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Friday.
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 plus the Acklins, Crooked Island and Mayaguana in the southeastern Bahamas.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Bimini and Andros Island.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the southeastern Bahamas along with the Turks and Caicos Islands and Andros Island as well as the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Los Tunas, Holguin and Guantanamo.
Hurricane conditions are expected to continue across portions of the central and southeastern Bahamas through Friday. Hurricane conditions are expected over portions of the northwestern Bahamas tonight and Friday. Tropical storm conditions will affect other portions of the southeastern Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands through Friday. Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of eastern Cuba through Friday morning.
A very dangerous and life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 12 feet above normal tide levels in the central Bahamas in areas of onshore flow. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels is expected in the remainder of the Bahamas within the hurricane warning area. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.
Joaquin is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 12 to 18 inches over the central Bahamas with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are expected over the southeastern Bahamas, with 2 to 4 inches over the northwestern Bahamas. This rainfall could result in life-threatening flash floods. Outer rain bands of Joaquin may affect portions of eastern Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks and Caicos Islands through Friday.
Swells generated by Joaquin will affect portions of the Bahamas during the next few days, and will begin to affect portions of the southeastern coast of the United States tonight and spread northward through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Regardless of Joaquin's track, a prolonged period of elevated water levels and large waves will affect the mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding likely. Please consult products from your local weather office.
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