According to the 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center on August 30, Dorian is forecast to become a major hurricane later in the day Friday. The government of the Bahamas has issued a Hurricane Watch for the northwest Bahamas and NHC advised that interests in south and central Florida should monitor the progress of Dorian.

As of 5 a.m., Hurricane Dorian is centered about 530 miles east of the northwest Bahamas and is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph. This motion is expected to continue through the day. On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas Friday, approach the northwestern Bahamas Saturday and move near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. Dorian is forecast to strengthen over the next few days and is expected to become a major hurricane later today. The storm is likely to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane while it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula through the weekend.

A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds in the northwest Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations this weekend into the middle of next week:

The Northwest 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.

The NHC stated the risk of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Florida east coast has increased, although it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge will occur. The risk of devastating hurricane-force winds along the Florida east coast and peninsula early next week has also increased, although it is too soon to determine where the strongest winds will occur. Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, know if they are in a hurricane evacuation zone and listen to advice given by local emergency officials.

While it is too soon to tell what, if any, impact Dorian will have on the Outer Banks, this is a good time to make sure your storm preparation plan is in place. Check out our 2019 Disaster Preparedness Guide here for more information. For updates, check back here or hurricanes.gov.

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