Hurricane Joaquin weakened slightly Friday, but still remains a strong category 3 storm north-northeast of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. It's picked up the pace, and is now moving northeast at 10 mph.  Joaquin is expected to stay a category 3 hurricane until sometime early Sunday, weakening rapidly beyond that time frame as it crosses colder water.

Model data takes this storm just west of Bermuda, and tropical storm watches have been posted for the tiny Atlantic island. Our biggest threat here in Florida continues to be the intense surf. Dangerous breakers of 5 to 8-feet are forecast the next couple days, with life-threatening rip currents expected. Officials are warning swimmers to stay OUT of the water this weekend, unless you are an experienced surfer. Coastal flooding is also a concern, especially in low lying areas of Volusia and Flagler County around high tide.

Summary: 11 p.m. Friday

  • Location: 24.7 N, 74.0 W
  • How far is it?
    • 60 mi. NNE of San Salvador
    • 396 mi. E of Miami
    • 473 mi. ESE of Melbourne
    • 519 mi. ESE of Orlando
    • 533 mi. ESE of Daytona Beach
  • Winds: 125 mph (Category 3)
  • Movement: NE at 10 mph
  • Pressure: 944 mb / 27.828inches

COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY

  • Flagler County until Saturday at 5 p.m.

Joaquin impacts coastal conditions

Though Joaquin is not a direct threat to Florida, it has already begun to create hazardous beach conditions along our Atlantic coast, which will continue through the weekend. High waves and rip currents will threaten the Central Florida coast for the next few days.

A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued for Flagler County until 5 p.m. Saturday.

Hurricane Joaquin might be about 480 miles southeast of Melbourne and no threat to making landfall in Florida, but the storm’s impact is already being felt with strong surf and rip currents in Brevard County.

A single red flag is flying Friday near Paradise Beach, in Melbourne. Lifeguards will be flying the double red flag on Saturday and Sunday, which warns beachgoers of the dangerous waves and unseen rip currents.

Brevard County Ocean Rescue officials said they are expecting 6- to 9-foot waves Friday night. Offshore seas will be from 9 to 12 feet as the storm passes by in the Atlantic Ocean.

Lifeguards have made more than a dozen rescues over the past two days, including a few surfers who have had their lines snap on their surfboards, officials said.

One surfer suffered a broken leg in the Sebastian Inlet.

Brevard County officials are also expecting some coastal flooding in the typical low-lying areas around the Indian River Lagoon.

Temporary beach closures possible in Volusia County

Volusia County's Beach Safety Division is considering closing the county's beaches to vehicular traffic intermittently over the weekend because of the storm swell Hurricane Joaquin is anticipated to create.

Lifeguard towers will remain staffed throughout the weekend, officials said.

"We will do everything possible to keep the beaches open over the weekend (but) erring on the side of safety," said Mark Swanson, director of Volusia County Beach Safety.

On Friday, several injuries were reported.

“We have had a couple of incidences already of people hitting the sandbar, causing head, neck, back and spinal injuries,” said Capt. Aaron Jenkins with Volusia County Beach Safety.

Captain Jenkins says officials are bracing for even stronger ocean conditions through the weekend.

Map of Joaquin's latest observed position

Map of Joaquin's forecast track

Mapped spaghetti plot of Joaquin's possible paths

Current tropical warnings

Current tropical watches

Watch our exclusive Storm Threat 2015 special on Bright House Networks Local on Demand, Channel 999.