Hurricane Joaquin strengthened into a Category 4 storm on Thursday as it roared through islands of the eastern Bahamas, and forecasters said it could grow still more intense before following a path that would near the U.S. East Coast.
While the path of Hurricane Joaquin’s path is uncertain, forecasters are certain the storm will be a rainmaker with possibly up to 15 inches of rain in the Carolinas even if there is no landfall in the United States. The latest model analysis Thursday afternoon predicts a more eastern track that could avoid North Carolina and South Carolina.
A powerful hurricane is lashing the Bahamas. The whole system is threatening to head straight north to the United States.
Key messages for Hurricane #Joaquin (Thursday evening, Oct. 1) https://t.co/7e9BAZsIGc pic.twitter.com/1kTRxdqXSr
— Natl Hurricane Ctr (@NWSNHC) October 1, 2015
JUST IN: #Joaquin upgraded to a category 4 #hurricane, 1st in #Atlantic Basin this year: https://t.co/FnN6DJKABJ pic.twitter.com/aTpZBAGl2a
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 1, 2015
Rough seas in #Delaware – #DEwx RT@friballica @weatherchannel in Bethany Beach, DE ocean is up to the dune already pic.twitter.com/6eCiZyCFjt
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 1, 2015
Track of #Joaquin shifted east, whether it makes landfall or not, #flooding major issue http://t.co/jBtYV57Z3A pic.twitter.com/kDNt1gRu8y
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 1, 2015