KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Meteorological (Met) Service of Jamaica says at 4:00 pm Friday, the centre of Hurricane Joaquin was located near Latitude 24.1 degrees north and Longitude 74.7 degrees west or about 25 km west -northwest of San Salvador, Bahamas.
A news release from the Met Service said Joaquin is moving toward the north near 11 km/h. A turn toward the northeast and an increase in forward speed are expected tonight, with a northeastward motion continuing through Sunday.
On the forecast track, the core of strongest winds of Joaquin will continue moving over portions of central and northwestern Bahamas for a few more hours, then move away from the Bahamas later tonight.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 205 km/h with higher gusts. Joaquin is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some slow weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
A trough induced by Joaquin is currently affecting the island.
The Met Service said that it will continue to monitor the situation.
