Getting a Pass from Hurricane Joaquin?

State emergency management officials were breathing a little easier Friday as weather forecast models indicated Hurricane Joaquin will swing to the north and east, and out to sea — essentially bypassing Connecticut.

Connecticut Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Dora B. Schriro said during a media conference call Friday morning that with several weather models indicating that Joaquin will remain an ocean storm, “for us in Connecticut that’s a good thing. There may be some possible ocean swells and rip currents on southeast facing coasts.”

Schirro added, “We do not expect Joaquin to have major impact on Connecticut. If the forecast should change, we are at the ready to change.”

A hazardous weather outlook remains in effect for southern Connecticut until 6 p.m. Friday, along with a coastal flooding advisory, according to the National Weather Service which has cancelled its previous coastal flood watch for the area.

Currently a Category 4 Hurricane, Joaquin continued to batter the Bahamas with a deluge of rain and winds up to 120 mph on Friday before it is expected to move northward and produce heavy winds and rain for the Eastern Seaboard, especially in the Carolinas, according to accuweather.com.

For Connecticut, the NWS is forecasting light rain on Saturday and Sunday with chilly temperatures remaining in the 50s. Partly sunny skies are expected to return on Monday and Tuesday with temperatures reaching the 60s.

However, DESPP spokesman Scott DeVico said, “We are still watching the storm and preparing as we would for any other storm. We cannot let our guard down.”

State officials urged residents to use the storm watch as an opportunity to develop personal emergency plans and survival kits as the hurricane season will continue until Nov. 1. They also advised residents to sign up for Connecticut’s emergency alert system.

Photo credit: Accuweather.com.