Models show Hurricane Joaquin tracking well east of DC

WASHINGTON -- The FOX 5 Weather Team says Hurricane Joaquin has strengthened into a Category 4 storm, which the National Hurricane Center says is "extremely dangerous."

The National Hurricane Center's latest models are showing that the storm is moving farther to the east, which would be a better scenario for the Mid-Atlantic, and would no longer make it an immediate threat to our area.

-- Category 4 storm, maximum winds of 130 mph
-- Storm battering the Bahamas, moving northwest at 3 mph
-- Latest forecast models show Joaquin tracking well east, out to sea
-- If track continues, no landfall for Joaquin and the D.C. area may only see fringe effects

No matter what Joaquin does, we will be getting rain Friday and it could last into Saturday morning. Amounts: 1 to 3 inches widespread and 3 to 5 inches locally.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 8 a.m. Friday until Saturday evening for the District of Columbia and portions of Maryland and Virginia.

In addition to the precipitation, cool temperatures are expected to continue and strong northeast wind gusts could be as high as 25 to 35 miles per hour.

Get the latest FOX 5 forecast by clicking here and follow the FOX 5 Weather Team on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

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