No Joy from Noel

Tropical Storm Noel is exacting a deadly toll on the Caribbean and now appears headed for the Bahamas.

At least 80 people in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica were killed by the slow-moving storm, which also hit Cuba. With sustained winds of just 60 mph, Noel is deceptively dangerous because while lacking the punch of a hurricane, it has dumped tons of rain, causing widespread flooding and landslides.

The storm is now about 45 miles southwest of Nassau and moving north-northeast. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the central and northwestern Bahamas, and the storm is now forecast to linger over the islands for the next day or so before moving out into the North Atlantic. A hurricane watch also is in effect for the Bahamas in the event that the storm strengthens in the next few hours. For more details, see the National Hurricane Center website.

If you'd like to help those affected by the storm, or learn more about the local impact of Noel, see the AmeriCares website.