Joaquin expected to become major hurricane

MIAMI _ Hurricane Joaquin could strengthen to a major hurricane over the next three days, but National Hurricane Center forecasters say it is too soon to tell whether the slow-moving storm will head toward the U.S. coastline or back out to sea.tmpplchld At 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the storm was located 215 miles east, northeast of the central Bahamas moving to the south, southwest about 6 mph. Sustained winds reached 80 mph with hurricane winds extending 35 miles from the storm. Tropical storm force winds reached 125 miles.tmpplchld The center of the storm could move over the central Bahamas as early as Wednesday night, forecasters said.tmpplchld Because hurricane models disagree, forecasters say they remain uncertain over what path the storm will take. They expect it to turn north Thursday, as it slows down. But with ocean temperatures at a record high, Joaquin could grow even stronger than predicted, forecasters warn.tmpplchld If the storm turns to the south, Joaquin could also speed up, complicating storm preparations in Florida and along the southeast U.S. coastline, where heavy rains and gusty winds are expected to continue for the next few days.tmpplchld In the central Bahamas, hurricane warnings have been issued for Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island and New Providence.tmpplchld Parts of the island chain could also get heavy rain, with the slow-moving storm expected to dump 5 to 10 inches of rain, and possibly 15 inches, over San Salvador and Rum Cay.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 Miami Heraldtmpplchld Visit Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld