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[h=4]Hurricane Joaquin strengthens, aims for East Coast[/h]Forecasters divided on whether strengthening Hurricane Joaquin will make U.S. landfall.
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Hurricane Joaquin is forecast to strengthen over the next two days and could track near the East Coast by this weekend.
A satellite image shows Hurricane Joaquin spinning in the Atlantic Wednesday morning.(Photo: NOAA)
Hurricane Joaquin has been upgraded to a Category 3<span style="color: Red;">*</span>storm, clocking<span style="color: Red;">*</span>115-mph winds as it<span style="color: Red;">*</span>approached the Bahamas Wednesday night, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.
Joaquin (wah-KEEN) made a path toward the East Coast of the United States, where it could hit by the weekend, forecasters were predicting.
Forecasters are still divided whether the storm will touch land.
"Confidence in the details of the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>forecast after 72 hours remains low," the hurricane center said in an online forecast.
Authorities in the Bahamas were bracing for contact with the storm and the center was supposed to pass near or over the islands overnight or Thursday. Joaquin was expected to head north toward the United States by Thursday night or Saturday. Hurricane warnings were issued for the central and northern Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center. Shortly before 11<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m. ET Wednesday, the hurricane was about 90<span style="color: Red;">*</span>miles east of San Salvador and moving at 6<span style="color: Red;">*</span>mph.
One reliable computer model keeps Joaquin far away from the East coast, the center said.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"The range of possible outcomes is still large<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>includes the possibility of a major hurricane landfall in the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Carolinas," the center said.
A major hurricane is Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 mph.
USA TODAY
East Coast communities brace for Hurricane Joaquin
"Because landfall, if it occurs, is still more than three days<span style="color: Red;">*</span>away, it is too early to talk about specific wind, rain, or surge<span style="color: Red;">*</span>impacts from Joaquin in the United States," the hurricane center said.
In Virginia, Governor Terry McAuliffe<span style="color: Red;">*</span>declared a state of emergency Wednesday for the state because of the predicted heavy rain event Thursday and Friday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and the potential weekend hurricane.
Brian Fortier, senior meteorologist at the Weather Channel, warned,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"It could be a significant situation. Everyone along the Northeast coast, right up to New England, should keep a close eye on the forecasts."
President Obama<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was briefed about federal preparations for Joaquin in case it hits the East Coast,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>White House spokesman<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Josh Earnest<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said Wednesday.
Some parts of the Bahamas could get<span style="color: Red;">*</span>more than<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a foot of rain and flash floods, the hurricane center said.
By Friday, ocean swells generated by Joaquin will<span style="color: Red;">*</span>begin to affect portions<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Florida's east coast and the Southeast coast, potentially<span style="color: Red;">*</span>causing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>life-threatening<span style="color: Red;">*</span>surf and rip currents.
Ahead of Joaquin, rain from other weather systems already soaked<span style="color: Red;">*</span>much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Flooding was reported Wednesday in New England, where scenes of swamped cars were common.
Still more rain is forecast for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday and Saturday, again not directly related to Joaquin. "Several inches of rain<span style="color: Red;">*</span>can be expected through Friday and beyond, which will bring concerns of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>flash flooding," National Weather Service meteorologist Amanda Fanning said in an online forecast.
"There is going to be catastrophic flooding from North Carolina to Massachusetts, and this is going to disrupt the economy regardless of whether or not Hurricane Joaquin makes landfall," said meteorologist Mike Smith of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions.
USA TODAY
Floods likely for East Coast even without Joaquin
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