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Storm Joaquin strengthens into hurricane off the Bahamas Hurricane Joaquin strengthens as it nears Bahamas
(about 11 hours later)
Storm Joaquin has strengthened into a hurricane, the third of the Atlantic season, the US National Hurricane Center announced on Wednesday. Hurricane Joaquin, the third of the Atlantic season, has strengthened into a category 2 storm as it nears the Bahamas, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.
At 15:00 GMT on Wednesday, Joaquin was 345km (215 miles) east-north-east of the central Bahamas, which it could reach later on Wednesday or Thursday. The eye of the storm is expected to pass over eastern islands of the Bahamas overnight.
Forecasters said the category-one hurricane was expected to further strengthen as it moved south-westward. A hurricane warning is in effect for the islands, that could see winds of up to 165km/h (105mph).
A hurricane warning is in effect for the central Bahamas. The NHC says Joaquin could affect the US East Coast by Sunday.
Meteorologists said the effects of the storm on the islands would depend on how much time Joaquin would spend churning nearby. It warned that Joaquin "could become a major hurricane" by Friday.
They said Joaquin could affect the US East Coast later this week or early next week. Geoffrey Greene, a senior forecaster with the Bahamas Meteorology Department, said he was "very concerned" about some of the smaller islands in Joaquin's path, such as San Salvador, Rum Cay and Cat Island, which all have small populations.