Hurricane Joaquin Gains Strength as It Closes in on the Bahamas
The third hurricane of the Atlantic season, Joaquin, has strengthened and advanced into a category 3 storm as it draws near the Bahamas, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Joaquin is expected to affect the eastern coast of the United States by Sunday, but overnight, it is seen to pass over the Bahamas, on the eastern islands.
According to BBC News, the NHC has released a hurricane warning in effect for most parts of the country, as the storm is seen to have winds up to 185 km/h (115 mph).
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The storm upgraded to a category 3 hurricane on a scale of five in just a few hours, and on Wednesday, it was reported to have gained significant strength, with the weather agency warning that it "could become a major hurricane" in no time.
Geoffrey Greene, a senior forecaster with the Bahamas Meteorology Department, shared his concerns about the hurricane's route, noting that the smaller islands blocking Joaquin's path, such as San Salvador, Rum Cay, and Cat Island, which house a small number of residents, could get heavily affected by the hurricane's passing.
This week, several areas on the East Coast saw large amounts of rain, with one person reported to have been killed by flash floods on Thursday in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Somehow remembering the catastrophic effects of Superstorm Sandy three years back, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut officials urged residents to start making the preparations in case the unexpected happens.
Earlier in the week, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency due to the heavy flooding and what he referred to as "a serious threat to life and property."
Meanwhile, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski says there is a "possibility" that Joaquin might move to the sea. However, he also reminds residents that even if the storm stays offshore, heavy rainfall and flooding could still occur due to the storm's moisture being pulled into the mid-Atlantic and Carolina areas.
