To know the force of this monster you must know a detail:
Currently we are having weird weather all over the Caribbean Islands.
All local meteorologists agree that Joaquin is to blame as he is sucking that moisture as far from Venezuela.
Joaquin is for certain a great sucker and a great charger machine.
The energy of this system is just tremendous!
Since yesterday we had here in Puerto Rico reports of very explosive storms, tornadoes on water, explosive rain for the south part of the Island, while in the north an extreme heat is felt.
A few seconds ago another train of thunderstorms has passed again. Now you must know we are around 450 miles away from Joaquin!
This is a very powerful hurricane and all of that energy must end somewhere... And more dangerous than having a hurricane making landfall (which some GLP'ers are pushing that dead-end scenario) the real threat here is whether Joaquin will suck or discharge that energy on the flooding system.
All of the satellite loops shows this relationship has started, Joaquin and the weather system are linked now.
So, that's the real danger. It could be worse than expected if Joaquin boost that system. He could potentially merge, and that will double or triple the amount of rain expected in the forecasts.