Christie Declares State Of Emergency As Hurricane Joaquin Approaches

Gov. Chris Christie declared a state of emergency Thursday as Hurricane Joaquin continued on its path that could strike New Jersey.

Christie, speaking at a press conference in Trenton, said he will consider evacuations if necessary - particularly in the southern part of the state.

BREAKING UPDATE: Joaquin now a Category 4 hurricane.

Christie, saying he canceled his presidential campaign schedule through Tuesday, warned that weather patterns are unpredictable, and that it’s not certain whether the storm - which is currently packing winds up to 120 mph - will hit New Jersey.

He did refer to Superstorm Sandy, noting that storm system was a combination of two patterns - and that Joaquin would come on the heals of a heavy rainstorm hitting New Jersey over the next two days.

“Many of us have been through this before,” he said.

He said the state Emergency Operations Center has been activated, and then told people in South Jersey: ”I need all of you to begin preparing today.”

He promised that, if there are evacuations, “we will give you as much advance notice as I possibly can.”

Hurricane Joaquin has strengthened to a Category 3 storm, packing 120 mph winds, forecasters say.

The National Hurricane Center and The Weather Channel said the storm’s impacts could reach the New Jersey-Pennsylvania region by late Sunday or early Monday morning.

A Category 3 typically packs winds ranging from 111 to 130 mph, and can cause significant damage, according to the National Hurricane Center. Category 3 storms can also cause extensive inland flooding, cause power outages and impact water supplies.

“Joaquin will move northward much of this weekend, roughly paralleling the East Coast. There is nearly equal possibility the storm will make landfall along the mid-Atlantic coast, the New England coast or veer out to sea,” according AccuWeather.com.

Get updates on the hurricane by signing up for a Patch newsletter - click here for more

As of 5 a.m., forecasters from The National Weather Service and The Weather Channel reported:

• Hurricane Joaquin’s center was located about 65 miles southeast of San Salvador in the central Bahamas early Thursday.
• Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 120 mph, a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.
• Joaquin is undergoing rapid intensification that may bring it to Category 4 intensity sometime Thursday, according to The Weather Channel.
• This system is moving slowly to the west-southwest and this is expected to continue through Thursday before turning north Friday into Saturday.

Hurricane Joaquin could have the following impacts on the New Jersey area:

• The storm could bring pounding surf, dangerous seas, strong winds, drenching squalls and flash flooding to the East Coast and the Bahamas, according to AccuWeather.com.
• The Weather Channel described the storm’s potential impact in one word: “massive.”
• All weather models indicate that at least five inches of rain could fall in the area by Monday.
• The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook and a Coastal Flood Warning for New Jersey, saying the storm - even it pushes west, or away from the coast - will likely cause flooding problems at the shoreline.
• Rip current, small craft and gale advisories were posted for Thursday as a separate weather system passes through.
• Once Hurricane Joaquin moves north, it will bring with it an elevated risk of rip currents along the coast, and the week’s rain may result in localized flooding in areas of poor drainage.

To reach hurricane status, wind speeds need to hit a sustained 74 miles per hour.

RELATED:

• Eagles Vs. Redskins Could Be Postponed Due To Joaquin: Report
• ‘Massive’ Rain, Flooding Threatens N.J. Whether Hurricane Joaquin Comes Or Not
• Joaquin Becomes Hurricane, Expected To Head Toward N.J.
• Ocean City Making Preliminary Preparations Ahead of Possible Hurricane
• Hurricane Joaquin: 5 Things To Know