Air Force Recon found 972 mb which is an 18 mb drop since late yesterday afternoon. Top winds are now 75 mph as Hurricane Joaquim continues to get better organized. Conditions continue to be favorable for further strengthening and it looks like Hurricane Joaquin will become at least a category 2 hurricane and possible a category 3 hurricane over time as it still has a couple of days over this area before it begins a northward course.
...JOAQUIN BECOMES A HURRICANE... SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...24.9N 72.2W ABOUT 245 MI...395 KM ENE OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...SW OR 235 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...971 MB...28.67 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The satellite loops show the impressive signatures of both Hurricane Joaquin and the cold front that is now moving through the northeast. Joaquin is sandwiched between that front to the northwest and the upper low to the east of it. Now we begin to watch the table being set along the Eastern Seaboard.
The new National Hurricane Center forecast from earlier this morning and you can see how the track is north to north northwestup the coat. This is reflecting an average of guidance which includes the GFS and Canadian models from last night which took Hurricane Joaquin inland near coastal Virginia Chesapeake Bay area. I have been saying for days we hear at the very least will experience severe noreaster conditions from Joaquin with the high to the north creating a tremendous pressure gradient. We will have more on this as the day progress and also please read my post last night regarding the global models and their handling of Joaquin.
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