Hurricane Joaquin continues to pull away from the Bahamas threaten Bermuda, while staying on a track that will keep it away from the eastern United States.
At 11 p.m. Saturday, the eye of the Category 4 hurricane was 385 miles southwest of Bermuda. It was moving northeast at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning were in effect for Bermuda. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Bermuda within the next 36 hours.
Joaquin's northeast movement is expected to continue through tonight with an increase in forwards speed. A turn toward the north-northeast is forecast for Sunday.
On the forecast track, the eye of the storm will oass west of Bermuda on Sunday. But a small deviation to the east of the forecast track would bring the core of the hurricane and strong winds closer to Bermuda.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles., but a gradual weakening is still anticipated during the next couple of days.
Even though Joaquin is expected to pass well east of the coast of the United States, a prolonged period of elevated water levels and large waves will affect the mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach ill affect the mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding. Florida is being impacted with increasingly rough water along the state's east coast.
Summary: 11 p.m. Saturday
- Location: 28.0 N., 68.9 W.
- How far is it? 385 mi. SW of Bermuda
- Winds: 130 mph
- Movement: NE at 20 mph
- Pressure: 944 mb / 27.88 inches