At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Joaquin was
located near latitude 23.0 North, longitude 73.9 West. A turn
toward the northwest and north is expected on Friday, and a faster
motion toward the north is expected Friday night and Saturday. On
the forecast track, the center of Joaquin will move near or over
portions of the central Bahamas today and tonight and pass near or
over portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Friday.
Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate
that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph (205
km/h) with higher gusts. Joaquin is a category 3 hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening
is possible during the next 24 hours, with some fluctuations in
intensity possible Friday night and Saturday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the
center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles
