SEP 3 @ 5 PM: WINDS INCREASING ALONG PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA EAST COAST – NEW WARNINGS AND WATCHES ISSUED
A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Sebastian Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach FL, and from north of Savannah River to Surf City NC. A Hurricane Watch is in effect from north of Ponte Vedra Beach FL to Savannah River, and from north of Surf City NC to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Grand Bahama and the Abacos Islands in the northwestern Bahamas, and in the U.S. Florida from north of Ponte Vedra Beach FL to Savannah River and from Jupiter Inlet FL to Sebastian Inlet FL. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from the North Carolina/Virginia state line to Chincoteague VA, including Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point southward.
Tropical storm conditions will continue on Grand Bahama Island and along the Treasure Coast of Florida tonight. Tropical Storm conditions are expected to begin within the Tropical Storm Warning area in north Florida and Georgia late tonight or early Wednesday. Hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the Hurricane Warning area in Florida overnight. Tropical Storm conditions will begin within the Hurricane Warning area in the Carolinas Wednesday, with hurricane conditions by Wednesday night.
Hurricane Dorian is centered as of 5 p.m. EDT about 105 miles (170 km) east of Vero Beach, Florida. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h), and a slightly faster motion toward the northwest or north-northwest is expected tonight. A turn toward the north is forecast by Wednesday evening, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast Thursday morning. On this track, the core of Hurricane Dorian will move dangerously close to the Florida east coast and the Georgia coast tonight through Wednesday night. The center of Dorian is forecast to move near or over the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina Thursday through Friday morning.
Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days. Dorian has become a larger hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm- force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km).
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Jupiter Inlet FL to Surf City NC. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from north of Surf City NC to Duck NC, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. Water levels should very slowly subside on Grand Bahamas Island and the Abaco Islands through tonight. 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 U.S. coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. Â
- Savannah River to Cape Lookout NC…4 to 7 ft
- Volusia/Brevard County Line FL to Savannah River…3 to 5 ft
- Cape Lookout NC to Duck NC, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
- and the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers…3 to 5 ft
- Jupiter Inlet FL to Volusia/Brevard County Line FL…2 to 4 ft
Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall totals through Friday:
- Northwest Bahamas…Additional 1 to 3 inches, isolated storm totals over 30 inches.
- Coastal Carolinas…5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.
- Atlantic Coast from the Florida peninsula north of West Palm Beach through Georgia and across southeast Virginia…3 to 6 inches. This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.