Hurricane Joaquin: 5 Things To Know

Joaquin, the season’s third hurricane, is brewing in the Atlantic. Current models predict an East Coast landfall is likely.

Here are five things you should know today about Hurricane Joaquin:

1. When did it form: Joaquin, previously a tropical storm, was declared a hurricane at 8 a.m. Wednesday

2. Where could it hit: The most current storm track shows an East Coast landfall is likely Sunday into Monday morning.

3. Who could be impacted: The current storm track shows Joaquin could impact the following states: North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusettes.

4. How strong is it: As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Joaquin is a Category 1 hurricane with winds at 85 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. To reach hurricane status, wind speeds need to hit a sustained 74 miles per hour.

5. Where is it now: On Wednesday morning, Joaquin was about 215 miles east-northeast of the Central Bahamas, moving toward the southwest at about 6 mph. “A general motion toward the west-southwest or southwest is expected to continue through tonight. A turn toward the northwest and a decrease in forward speed are forecast Thursday or Thursday night. The center of Joaquin is expected to move near or over portions of the central Bahamas tonight and Thursday,” according to the National Hurricane Center.