MIAMI — The Bahamas is bracing for a brush with Hurricane Joaquin, which is on a projected track that would take it near the East Coast of the U.S.

Forecasters with the Bahamas Meteorology Office say the Category 1 storm is expected to pass near small islands in the eastern part of the island chain. Senior Meteorological Officer Geoffrey Greene said Wednesday the storm should be close enough to San Salvador, Cat Island and Eleuthera to bring tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rains.

The storm is expected to bring smaller amounts of rain to the central Bahamas and the capital of Nassau.

Joaquin strengthened to a hurricane Wednesday morning, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says additional strengthening is expected over the next two days.