Joaquin Becomes ‘Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane’

As hurricane Joaquin spins around in the Atlantic, it's picked up steam and has strengthened to a very dangerous Category 4 hurricane headed straight for the Eastern United States. To make matters even more dangerous, it's expected to strengthen even more.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said this afternoon that additional strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours, as hurricane Joaquin moves past the Bahamas, bringing winds, heavy rain, dangerous surf and significant storm surge to the U.S.

Currently, hurricane Joaquin has maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 kph) and is moving southwest at 6 mph (9 kph). It is about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south-southeast of San Salvador, Bahamas.

Joaquin is expected to have a significant impact on the East coast, as the governors of North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey have declared a state of emergency.