Hurricane Joaquin to move north after hitting Bahamas
Too early to predict impact on Maritimes, N.L.
The latest hurricane in the Atlantic being watched by meteorologists is Joaquin, a Category 3 hurricane, affecting the Bahamas region today and then expected to move north.
It's not close enough to determine its impact on the Maritimes and Newfoundland, but Joaquin's maximum sustained winds Thursday were near 205 km/h, with higher gusts, according to reports from a U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft.
The National Hurricane Center in the U.S. said in its latest report that a turn toward the northwest and north is expected today, and a faster motion toward the north is expected tonight and Saturday.
On the forecast track, the centre of Joaquin was expected to move near or over portions of the central Bahamas Thursday and pass near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas today.
Some additional strengthening is possible, with some fluctuations in intensity possible tonight and Saturday.
A hurricane warning is in effect for central Bahamas, northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence, The Acklins, Crooked Island, and Mayaguana in southeastern Bahamas.
Hurricane conditions are expected over portions of the northwestern Bahamas today, including high winds, storm surges and rainfall accumulations of 10 to 15 inches over central Bahamas, with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches possible.
The National Hurricane Center says this rainfall could result in life-threatening flash floods. Outer rain bands of Joaquin were expected to affect portions of eastern Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic Thursday night.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Bimini and Andros Island and a tropical storm warning is in effect for the remainder of the southeastern Bahamas, including the Turks and Caicos Islands and Andros Island.
Disturbance X also being watched closely
Another disturbance is being monitored in the central Atlantic, about 700 miles southeast of Bermuda.
The National Hurricane Center says this system, dubbed Disturbance 1, has a 50 per cent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in 48 hours.
On Thursday it was producing a large area of cloudiness and thunderstorms.