Hurricane Joaquin Weakens; East Coast Flooding Still Likely

By JASON CLAFFEY (Patch Staff)

Hurricane Joaquin has weakened and the forecast track has moved farther offshore, but forecasters warned it will still drench the mid-Atlantic and Northeast starting Monday night.

Late Friday night, the storm was downgraded to a Category 3 storm as it barreled through the Bahamas. Coast Guard crews were dispatched there early Saturday morning to resume searching for a disabled container ship with 28 Americans aboard. The ship’s last known path was in the eye of storm, where sustained winds hit 125 mph, officials said.

As of early Saturday morning, the storm was moving north from the Bahamas at 7 mph. The hurricane is expected to remain well offshore, taking a northeast course hundreds of miles from the coast. But hurricanes are notoriously unpredictable, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on the storm’s path the next few days.

Even remaining well offshore, the storm’s impact will still be felt along the East coast.

“A prolonged period of elevated water levels and large waves will affect the mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding likely,” the National Weather Service warned.

The hurricane is on track to pass off the New Jersey coast Monday night, passing New England Tuesday morning, spurring heavy rain, winds gusting upwards of 50 mph and high surf along the New England coast. Forecasters are warning about the high surf and dangerous rip currents all along the Eastern seaboard as Joaquin passes.

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