UPDATE:  Joaquin strengthened to a hurricane Wednesday morning as it nears the Bahamas.

A hurricane warning has been issued for the central Bahamas as the storm approaches.

Hurricane Joaquin’s maximum sustained winds increased to near 75 mph (120 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center says additional strengthening is expected over the next two days.

The storm is centered about 245 miles (395 kilometers) east-northeast of the central Bahamas and is moving southwest near 6 mph (9 kph). Joaquin’s center is expected to pass over or near the central Bahamas Wednesday night or Thursday.

 

Well, there goes the weekend. It looked so nice at the beginning of the week, but now it looks even wetter than what we’ve been experiencing.

Today, we’re staring out at a warm and muggy 70 degrees, with 100 percent humidity. We can look forward to a 40 percent chance of rain and a warm high of 82.

There will be areas of fog this morning, with showers and possible thunderstorms after 10 a.m. Expect another tenth to quarter inch of rain except for heavier amounts in thunderstorms.

Tonight, the chance of rain is 60 percent, with thunderstorms possible. The low will be 62, with a north northeast wind picking up to 6-11 mph after midnight. Another quarter to half inch of rain is possible.

The National Weather Service is warning that some of the thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, damaging winds and large hail. Flash flooding is also a possibility.

Thursday has another 60 percent chance of rain, with a high of 66 and a northeast wind around 11 mph. Not much accumulation is expected until Thursday night, with another 60 percent chance of rain. The low will be 55 and northeast winds will blow around 13 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. A quarter to a half inch of rain is expected.

Friday just gets wetter, with a 70 percent chance of rain and a high of just 62. That same wind from the north northeast will blow at 13-15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Friday night, the chance of rain is 80 percent, with a low around 53.

We can blame the lousy weekend weather on the tropical system Joaquin, which will approach from the coast, and an upper low to the west of our area, which will spread over the Piedmont.

It’s bad news for Autumn Jubilee and all the other outdoor activities planned for this weekend. Saturday’s chance of rain is 80 percent, with thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. The high will be 66. A 60 percent chance of rain is expected Saturday night, with a low of 54.

Don’t look for much change Sunday, when there’s a 50 percent chance of showers and a high of 68. Sunday night is the first time rain is not mentioned. The low will be 52.

All these misty, drizzly days have not helped our abnormally dry conditions much. The area needs rain, but there might be too much of a good thing.

Just in time to got back to work, it will be partly sunny Monday, with a high of 70; partly cloudy Monday night, with a low of 52.

Tuesday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 72.