10PM Dorian Update:
Dorian is still an incredibly powerful category 5 hurricane with 180 mph as it now hammers Grand Bahama.
Speed has picked up a notch to 6 mph to the west. Latest track shows a little bit more uncertainty over the next 24-36 hours as we wait for Dorian to makes it turn to the north but all models still agree Dorian runs parallel to the Florida coast during the week.
It will slowly weaken as it gains latitude but will still cause dangerous impacts for those right along the Florida, Georgia and Carolina coast over the next 5 days.
7PM Dorian Update:
Dorian remains a catastrophic category 5 hurricane with 185 mph after passing over Great Abaco and heads for Grand Bahama.
Dorian's pressure has come up a little to 915 mb, which means it might be undergoing some changes near the eye(possibly an eye-wall replacement cycle).
4PM Dorian Update:
Hurricane Dorian continues to unleash its fury on the Abacos Islands with 185 mph winds and is crawling towards Grand Bahama.
Latest track from the National Hurricane Center is still the same with Dorian slowly weakening as it rides up the east coast this week.
Also, with this update hurricane warnings and watches, along with storm surge warnings and watches, have been issued for portions of the Florida coast as Dorian inches closer to the area.
Original Story as of 1 PM Sunday September 1st.
Hurricane Dorian has turned into one of the strongest hurricanes we have ever witnessed with 185 mph winds and gusts as high as 220 mph.
Not only are the winds some of the highest we have ever seen but the pressure of Dorian has dropped to 911 mb, which is 10 mb lower than Hurricane Andrew.
And the worst thing about Dorian strengthening so much Sunday is that is occurred just miles from the coast of the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas.
A little before noon central time Dorian made landfall on Elbow Clay in the Abacos as a catastrophic category 5 hurricane.
As of 1 PM the eye was beginning to slide over the island bringing with it the full force of this massive storm, with the intense hurricane force winds extend out 45 miles from the center.
To make matters worse for the islands Dorian is actually slowing down as it is crawling to the west at 7 mph and is expected to slow down ever more later today.
This means the strongest winds of 180 mph will thrash the island for roughly the next 24 hours causing life-threatening damage.
On top of the powerful winds Dorian is producing a 15-23 foot storm surge on the island, along with torrential rains between 10-20+ inches.
The center of Dorian is projected to finally move away from the Bahamas Monday afternoon.
As it moves away from the islands Dorian should then make its turn to the north and begin to gradually weaken with winds dropping down to an impressive 140 mph as it starts to ride up along the east coast of Florida.
The good news is all models keep Dorian offshore but those along the Florida coast are still going to feel significant impacts of Dorian on Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Warning are now issued from Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet, while tropical storm watches are up for the surrounding areas in Florida.
This means they will likely see winds between 40-60 mph and tropical showers/storms, which could produce 3-6 inches of rain.
Also, with the storm so close to land, Dorian will create an incredible strong onshore flow producing a storm surge of 3-5 feet for the barrier islands of Florida.
As Dorian slides up the Florida coast it is forecast to weaken to a category 3 hurricane with winds between 110-120 mph by Wednesday morning as it nears Jacksonville.
Although Dorian will being weakening those near Jacksonville up into the Georgia coast will still feels the affects of Dorian.
These residents will likely experience tropical storm force winds between 40-60 mph, heavy rains and a storm surge of 8-13 feet along the coast.
Then on Thursday as it scoots by the South Carolina coast areas from Savannah to Charleston could see some of the worst storm surge between 10-15 feet, gutsy winds and heavy rains.
At this point Dorian should begin to pick up speed as it continues to weaken as it brushes by the North Carolina coast late Thursday night causing impacts for those residents as well.
By Friday morning Dorian should finally turn back out into the Atlantic away from the East coast and further weaken to a category 1 hurricane and eventually down to a tropical storm.
Thus, our neighbors along the East coast still have a long 5-6 days ahead as they will be dealing with incredible storm.
