Severe Hurricane Joaquin Threatening Bermuda
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Severe Hurricane Joaquin is threatening Bermuda.
At 4:30 p.m., the center of the Category 4 hurricane was about 500 miles southwest of Bermuda.
The Hurricane Hunter plane indicated that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 150 mph with higher gusts. Joaquin is a strong category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely tonight, but Joaquin is forecast to gradually weaken during the next 48 hours.
Joaquin is moving toward the northeast near 17 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through Saturday night. A turn toward the north- northeast is forecast on Sunday. On the forecast track, the eye of Joaquin will pass west of Bermuda on Sunday.
However, a small deviation to the east of the forecast track would bring the core of the hurricane and stronger winds closer to Bermuda.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Bermuda.
Tropical storm conditions are first expected to reach Bermuda by Sunday morning, with hurricane conditions possible by Sunday afternoon.
Outer rain bands of Joaquin will begin to affect Bermuda by early Sunday, and Joaquin is expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rainfall over Bermuda through Monday.
Swells generated by Joaquin will continue to affect portions of the Bahamas during the next few days. Swells are affecting much of the southeastern coast of the United States and will spread northward along the east coast of the United States through the weekend. Swells from Joaquin will begin affecting Bermuda today and continue through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Even though Joaquin is expected to pass well east of the coast of the United States, 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.
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