Hurricane Joaquin Strengthens to Category 4 as It Hits the Bahamas

by Ed Payne

10-2-2015

The National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm Thursday afternoon as Joaquin’s maximum sustained winds increased to about 130 mph. There were no reports of casualties in the Bahamas.

(CNN) Hurricane Joaquin might just be a no-show this weekend along the East Coast of the United States.

Early Friday, Joaquin remained essentially stalled over the Bahamas for a second morning.

The latest tracking maps show the powerful Category 4 storm staying well offshore after it leaves the island chain.

What's not going away is the rain for the already waterlogged region.

Moisture from Joaquin is being pumped into a weather system stalled along the coast.

"We're looking at historic flooding in coastal South Carolina," said CNN meteorologist Rachel Aissen. Ten to 15 inches of rain is expected.

Charleston, South Carolina, will be especially hard hit, but heavy rain will penetrate all the way inland to Columbia, more than 100 miles away.

Gov. Nikki Haley declared a state of emergency in anticipation of major flooding.