A hurricane watch has been issued for the Northwestern Bahamas and Dorian is forecasted to become a major hurricane later today. It has slowed down and has shifted slightly south overnight.
Landfall is now expected early Monday evening with the eye of the storm headed to Palm Beach and Northern Broward Counties. It's predicted to be a dangerous Category 4 Hurricane.
The American models and European models are coming together in agreement on predictions.
Governor Ron DeSantis is extendeding the state of emergency to include all 67 counties ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s potential Florida landfall.
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DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK:
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Dorian was located
near latitude 23.8 North, longitude 69.1 West. Dorian is moving
toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this motion is
expected to continue through the day. A slower west-northwestward
to westward motion is forecast to begin tonight and continue
through the weekend. On this track, Dorian should move over the
Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas today,
approach the northwestern Bahamas Saturday, and move near or over
portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher
gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and
Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane later today. Dorian
is likely to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane while it moves
near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula
through the weekend.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the
center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105
miles (165 km).
The minimum central pressure based on data from an earlier
Hurricane Hunter mission is 979 mb (28.91 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by
Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Saturday
night or Sunday morning.
STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce
significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds in the
northwestern Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be
accompanied by large and destructive waves.
RAINFALL: Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
accumulations this weekend into the middle of next week:
The northwestern Bahamas and coastal sections of the Southeast
United States...6 to 12 inches, isolated 15 inches.
The central Bahamas...1 to 2 inches, isolated 4 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.
SURF: Swells are likely to begin affecting the east-facing shores
of the Bahamas and 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 intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST.
Photo credit: National Hurricane Center