East Coast on Alert as Hurricane Joaquin Intensifies to Category 3

By LIZ TAURASI (Patch Staff)

Photos Courtesy National Weather Service

Overnight Hurricane Joaquin strengthened to a Category 3 storm with 120 mile per hour winds. It is expected to hit the Central Bahamas Thursday with battering the islands with hurricane force winds, storm surge and heavy rain through Thursday night.

If it stays on its current track, the National Weather Service says Joaquin could hit South Carolina sometime Saturday afternoon, North Carolina Sunday afternoon and the DC area by mid-afternoon Monday before continuing to track North into New York, New Jersey and Southern New England.

Ahead of Joaquin, weather systems brought record breaking rain to the Boston area on Wednesday. While it stays dry with cooler temperatures on Thursday, more rain is on the way Thursday night into Friday. Additionally, the area is expected to deal with coastal flooding, high winds and high seas.

The NWS says persistent northeast winds will result in several rounds minor coastal flooding beginning Thursday through Saturday and these winds will also result in high seas and gales lasting into Saturday. There is also a high risk of rip currents on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency officials were encouraging everyone in the state to be prepared as Joaquin makes its approach.

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