Tropical Storm Joaquin strengthened to a hurricane Wednesday morning as it neared the Bahamas, the National Hurricane Center said. Joaquin's maximum sustained winds increased to near 75 mph. The storm is centered about 245 miles east-northeast of the central Bahamas and is expected to pass near the islands Wednesday night or Thursday. Joaquin could track up the East Coast in the next few days, the center said Tuesday. Ref. USAToday
28 Americans aboard cargo ship missing in Bahamas in Hurricane Joaquin
The U.S. Coast Guard has been searching for the 735-foot ship named El Faro, with 33 crewmembers onboard, since it sent a signal that it had lost propulsion and was listing at 15 degrees. Ref. USAToday