Hurricane Dorian Could Hit Florida over the Weekend
Tropical Storm Dorian is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane as it heads toward the southeastern U.S. over the Labor Day weekend.
After hitting Puerto Rico, the storm is forecast by Friday morning to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it tracks to the east of Turks and Caicos, then to continue to build through Sunday morning before possibly making landfall late Sunday or Monday along the east coast of Florida or points north, CNN meteorologist Haley Brink said.
Though it's too early to know precisely when and where the storm might affect the US mainland, Florida's governor on Tuesday said it's time for his state to being prepping.
"Based on the current track of Tropical Storm Dorian, all residents on the East Coast should prepare for impacts, including strong winds, heavy rain and flooding," Gov. Ron DeSantis said. "Make sure to have your supplies ready and follow @FLSERT (Florida Division of Emergency Management) and local media for the latest updates on the forecast."
A well-known forecast model predicts Dorian will pack hurricane-force winds when it reaches the Florida Peninsula. The model operated by the European Center for Medium Range Forecasting shows the center of a strong storm coming ashore along the eastern coast of Florida, somewhere between West Palm Beach and Jacksonville.
Still, "it is still way too early to forecast impacts" in Florida, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. A Category 2 hurricane has sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph.
While Dorian could lose some intensity by passing over the land mass, the storm has steadily gained power and become better organized on Wednesday. Within four days, its winds could top 115 mph, the National Hurricane Center says.
"All indications are that by this Labor Day weekend, a powerful hurricane will be near the Florida or southeastern coast of the United States," the National Hurricane Center says.
What Meterologists Say
The center's current predictions show Dorian hitting Florida's coast late Sunday or early Monday. It's expected to become a major hurricane (Category 3 and above) as it moves north of the Bahamas.
While the center initially predicted the storm would weaken somewhat into a Category 2 — with winds of 100 mph — as it drew close to Florida's coast, it quickly issued a correction to its 11 a.m. update, clarifying that the storm will likely arrive as a major hurricane.
As meteorologist Philip Klotzbach notes, "The average date for the 1st Atlantic major hurricane is September 3."
The center's forecasts currently predict the storm will make landfall near an area that's level with Orlando. But that potential location is subject to change drastically, as the storm develops.
When the storm reaches Florida, it's expected to drop 4-8 inches of rain, with 10 inches in some spots.
Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr announced Wednesday that all schools and government offices would be closed throughout the territory due to the storm. This morning, the government also spent several hours distributing sandbags to residents. And as Dorian loomed, Bryan also instituted a public curfew from 12 noon to 6 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Public Radio (NPR).
