2:00 Joaquin Update - If you live in New Jersey grab your azz and kiss it goodbye!
200 PM EDT (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Joaquin was
located near latitude 24.4 North, longitude 72.9 West. Joaquin is
moving toward the southwest near 6 mph (9 km/h). A general motion
toward the west-southwest or southwest is expected to continue
through tonight. A turn toward the northwest and a decrease in
forward speed are forecast Thursday or Thursday night. The center
of Joaquin is expected to move near or over portions of the central
Bahamas tonight and Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph
with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected, and
Joaquin could become a major hurricane during the next couple of
days.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the
center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.
