Hurricane Dorian NOAA 11am update: Deadly storms tracks closer to the US
HURRICANE DORIAN battered the US Virgin Islands and is now heading away from Puerto Rico towards Florida where it is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane. But what does the latest NOAA update reveal?
Storm Dorian could become category two hurricane says expert
Dorian was the fourth tropical storm and went on to become the second hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. Weather forecasters predict Hurricane Dorian will strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane over the next couple of days as it tracks a devastating path towards the USA. Hurricane Dorian, currently a Category 1 hurricane has missed the main island of Puerto Rico, but the US territory's smaller islands, Vieques and Culetra, have been battered by heavy rain and high winds. But as Dorian grows more powerful in the coming days, what is the latest news about the terrifying storm from the NOAA's National Hurricane Center?
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As of 11am AST (4pm BST), Hurricane Dorian was located at latitude 21.4 north, longitude 67.2 west, which is approximately 220 miles north northwest from San Juan, Puerto Rico and about 370 miles east from the southeastern Bahamas.
The NHC recorded maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) with the storm moving northwest at 13 mph - motion which is expected to continue through Friday
On this track, Dorian is forecast to move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and on Friday, approach the northwestern Bahamas Saturday, and move near or over portions of the northwest Bahamas on Sunday.
While, the minimum central pressure was reported as 986 mb (29.12 inches).
Dorian is expected to cause a great extent of hazardous weather to surrounding regions.
The rainfall accumulations anticipated, Dorian is expected to produce this week and into early next week are:
- The central Bahamas: 2 to 4 inches, with isolated areas reaching 6 inches
- The northwestern Bahamas and coastal sections of the Southeast United States: 4 to 8 inches, with isolated areas reaching 12 inches.
This rainfall may potentially cause life-threatening flash floods.
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The maximum predicted winds for Hurricane Dorian are expected on August 31 and 1 where winds are forecast to reach 127 mph (110kt) and 132 mph (115kt) respectively.
According to the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale this would mean Hurricane Dorian would become a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday and a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday as it reaches Florida.
Tropical-storm-force winds from Dorian could begin in parts of Florida "as early as Saturday evening or Saturday night" according to the NHC.
The key messages from the National Hurricane Center were: "The risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds this weekend continues to increase in the northwestern Bahamas, and hurricane watches could be issued there tonight or Friday.
"Residents should have their hurricane plan in place and listen to advice given by local emergency officials.
"There is an increasing likelihood of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Florida east coast late this weekend or early next week, although it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge will occur.
"Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, know if they are in a hurricane evaluation zone, and listen to advice given by local emergency officials.
"The risk of devastating hurricane-force winds along the Florida east coast and peninsula late this weekend and early next week continues to increase, although it is too soon to determine where the strongest winds will occur.
"Regardless of the exact track of Dorian, heavy rains are expected to occur over portions of the Bahamas, Florida, and elsewhere in the southeastern United States this weekend and into the middle of next week."
