The eyewall of the catastophic Category 5 Hurricane Dorian is pounding Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Island with devastating winds, life-threatening storm surge and very heavy rainfall. It's expected to gradually make a turn to the Northwest.
Dorian should move closer to Florida's east coast late tomorrow through Tuesday. Floridians should prepare for severe weather including destructive wind gusts, heavy rains, and potential flooding.
- A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from Lantana to the Volusia/Brevard County Line.
- A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from the Volusia/Brevard County Line to the Flagler/Volusia County Line.
- A Hurricane Warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet to the Volusia/Brevard County Line.
- A Hurricane Watch has been issued from the Volusia/Brevard County Line to the Flagler/Volusia County Line
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Lantana to the Volusia/Brevard County Line
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* North of Deerfield Beach to Lantana
* Volusia/Brevard County Line to the Flagler/Volusia County Line
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island
* Jupiter Inlet to the Volusia/Brevard County Line
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Andros Island
* North of Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet
* Volusia/Brevard County Line to the Flagler/Volusia County Line
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North of Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* North of Golden Beach to Deerfield Beach
* Lake Okeechobee
8PM DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the distinct eye of Hurricane Dorian was
located near latitude 26.6 North, longitude 77.6 West. Dorian is
moving toward the west near 5 mph (7 km/h). A slower westward to
west-northwestward motion is forecast during the next day or
two, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest. On this
track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will
continue to pound Great Abaco and Grand Bahama islands tonight and
Monday. The hurricane will move dangerously close to the Florida
east coast late Monday through Tuesday night.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 185 mph (295 km/h) with higher
gusts. Dorian is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely,
and Dorian is expected to remain a catastrophic hurricane during the
next few days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140
miles (220 km).
The minimum central pressure recently measured by an Air Force
reconnaissance plane was 915 mb (27.02 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Catastrophic hurricane conditions continue in the Abacos
Islands and are beginning to spread across Grand Bahama Island. Do
not venture out into the eye, as winds will suddenly increase as the
eye passes.
Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area
in Florida by late Monday or Tuesday.
Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm
warning area on Monday and Tuesday and are possible in the tropical
storm watch area by Monday night.
STORM SURGE: A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels
by as much as 18 to 23 feet above normal tide levels in areas of
onshore winds on the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island. Near
the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive
waves.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause
normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters
moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the
following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Flagler/Volusia County Line to Lantana FL...4 to 7 ft
North of Deerfield Beach to Lantana FL...2 to 4 ft
The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Surge-related flooding depends on the how close the center of
Dorian comes to the Florida east coast, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
RAINFALL: Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
totals through late this week:
Northwestern Bahamas...12 to 24 inches, isolated 30 inches.
Coastal Carolinas...5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.
The Atlantic Coast from the Florida peninsula through Georgia...3 to
6 inches, isolated 9 inches.
Southeastern Virginia...2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.
Central Bahamas...2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.
SURF: Large swells are affecting east-facing shores of the Bahamas
and the Florida east coast, and will spread northward along the
southeastern United States coast during the next few days. These
swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
NEXT ADVISORY
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Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.
Photo credit: National Hurricane Center