RMS: Slow-Moving Hurricane Joaquin Expected to Drive Coastal Flooding

Even though Hurricane Joaquin is likely to remain offshore in the Atlantic, it is battering parts of the Carribbean with Category 4 strength winds and will likely drive coastal flooding and heavy rainfall along the eastern U.S. coastline, according to RMS, the Newark, California-based catastrophe risk management firm.

“Slow-moving Major Hurricane Joaquin is currently centered over the central Bahamas as a Category 4 storm with 130 mph (215 km/hr) sustained winds, making it the strongest Atlantic hurricane in five years,” said Emily Paterson, senior manager of catastrophe response at RMS.

“Even though Joaquin is not likely to make U.S. landfall, over the next few days coastal flooding and heavy rainfall is expected along the eastern U.S. coastline from the Carolinas to New Jersey,” she added.

RMS said Joaquin’s forecast track has shifted further eastwards and is no longer forecast to make landfall over the U.S. Over the next five days, the system will begin to gradually weaken, though is expected to maintain hurricane strength while tracking north-northeast offshore the U.S. eastern seaboard, between the U.S. and Bermuda.

The strongest winds of Joaquin will continue moving over portions of the central and north-western Bahamas Friday as warm ocean temperatures of 30°C (86°F), and weak vertical wind shear help to maintain the storms intensity. Tropical storm conditions are expected through Friday over the Turks and Caicos Islands and portions of eastern Cuba.

Source: RMS