Meteorologists Continue to Watch Joaquin’s Path – Joaquin’s Wrath Expected to Head East into the Atlantic

NEW JERSEY – While meteorologists are still assessing Hurricane Joaquin’s path, they are simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief as the storm’s expected track to divert from New Jersey and now head out to sea.

“More good news today as our confidences continues to steadily increase that we will have no impact from Hurricane Joaquin,” said weather forecaster Sean Rowland earlier today in a news release from the Hackettstown-based WeatherWorks to local municipalities that subscribe to the group’s service.

Later in the afternoon meteorologist Christina Speciale from WeatherWorks sided with Rowland’s forecast, though adding a hint of caution.

“More signs point to Joaquin remaining well east of the US with perhaps only brushing by Cape Cod early next week,” Speciale said. “Keep in mind hurricanes can be erratic and we won’t have total confidence in Joaquin’s track until Sunday.”

The National Weather Service still has kept a Hazardous Weather Outlook status for Sussex County. Rains in Northern New Jersey, Northwest New Jersey and portions of Pennsylvania, are expected to be heavy at times, with the potential of a half-inch per hour.

While Joaquin may be veering East of the coastline, winds are still picking up along the New Jersey coastline, with reports at the current time offering a Coastal Flood Warning and Wind Advisory. In the Monmouth County area for example, a coastal flood warning is in effect through Sunday, Oct. 4 until 6 p.m. High tide is expected around midnight on Friday, and then again on Saturday afternoon. Roadway flooding could be a side effect, with moderate beach erosion and minor property damage a possibility.

In a press conference this afternoon, Gov. Chris Christie said that the state should still be prepared for flooding in the four southernmost counties, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem. In Atlantic and Cape May he said to anticipate about one to three feet of flooding. He added that although the state is prepared if Hurricane Joaquin does change course, but it is now expected that the storm’s wrath will be in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and minimally in New Jersey.

NJInsideScene.com will continue to provide updates on the progression of Hurricane Joaquin. Click here to follow us on Facebook.

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