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02 Oct 2015 / Bahamas

Extremely dangerous Joaquin moving slowly north-westward

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Central Bahamas, Northwestern Bahamas including the Abacos, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island and New Providence, and The Acklins, Crooked Island, and Mayaguana in the southeastern Bahamas.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Bimini and Andros Island

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the remainder of the southeastern Bahamas including the Turks and Caicos Islands, Andros Island, and the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Los Tunas, Holguin, and Guantanamo...

...At 500am EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Joaquin was located near latitude 23.3 North, longitude 74.7 West. Joaquin is drifting toward the northwest near 3 mph (6 km/h). A faster northward motion is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn toward the northeast and an increase in forward speed tonight and Saturday. On the forecast track, the core of the strongest winds of Joaquin will continue moving over portions of the central and northwestern Bahamas today. Joaquin will begin to move away from the Bahamas tonight and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts. Joaquin is a dangerous category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next 24 hours. Slow weakening is expected to begin on Saturday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 935 mb (27.61 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to continue across portions of the central and southeastern Bahamas through today. Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the northwestern Bahamas today. Tropical storm conditions will affect other portions of the southeastern Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands today. Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of eastern Cuba through this morning.

STORM SURGE: A very dangerous and life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 12 feet above normal tide levels in the central Bahamas in areas of onshore flow. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels is expected in the remainder of the Bahamas within the hurricane warning area. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.

RAINFALL: Joaquin is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 12 to 18 inches over the central Bahamas with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are expected over the southeastern Bahamas, with 2 to 4 inches over the northwestern Bahamas, eastern Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. This rainfall could result in life-threatening flash floods.

SURF: Swells generated by Joaquin will affect portions of the Bahamas during the next few days. Swells have begun to affect portions of the southeastern coast of the United States and will spread northward along the east coast of the United States through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Regardless of Joaquin's track, 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...

(For information about operations in the Americas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])

National Hurricane Center, Miami Fl, Hurricane Joaquin Advisory No.18 issued at 500am EDT on Friday 2 October 2015

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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