Hurricane Dorian is expect to become a dangerous category 4 hurricane before hitting the state of Florida. Cat 4 is the second-highest hurricane classification, meaning the storm will have a range of 130-156 mph winds. As a reference, Hurricane Charley in 2004, plowed up through Punta Gorda, and more recent memories, last year's Hurricane Florence and its windy/wet impact on the Carolinas. Any hurricane classified at a Cat 3 or higher is considered a 'major hurricane'.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Interests in the northwestern and central Bahamas should monitor the progress of Dorian. Watches may be required for portions of this area on Friday.
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC) 8/29/2019, the center of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 22.5 North, longitude 67.7 West. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday. A west-northwestward to westward motion is forecast to begin by Friday night and continue into the weekend. On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas tonight and on Friday, approach the northwestern Bahamas Saturday, and move near or over portions of the northwest Bahamas on Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday, and remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through the weekend.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).
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