Hurricane Dorian, still a powerful Category 3 hurricane, currently has maximum sustained wind speeds of 120mph. NOAA predicts Dorian is just 110 miles east-northeast from West Palm Beach in Florida. In their 8am update, NOAA said of Dorian’s outlook: “At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located by reconnaissance aircraft and NOAA Doppler radar near latitude 27.1 North, longitude 78.4 West.
“Dorian is beginning to move northwestward at about 1 mph (2 km/h), and a slightly faster motion toward the northwest or north-northwest is expected later today and tonight.
“A turn toward the north is forecast by Wednesday evening, followed by a turn to the north-northeast Thursday morning.
“On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will gradually move north of Grand Bahama Island through this evening.
“The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening, very near the Georgia and South Carolina coasts Wednesday night and Thursday, and near or over the North Carolina coast late Thursday.”
Hurricane Dorian had previously come to a standstill, maintaining speeds of 120mph while stationary.
The latest advisory indicates Dorian is slowly on the move, at a speed of 1mph, as its southern eyewall continues to “pound” Grand Bahama Island.
Dorian is expected to move closer to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening.
NOAA warns hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area in Florida by this evening.
Hurricane conditions are also possible in the Hurricane Watch area on Wednesday.
In South Florida, tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area through today, and are possible in the Tropical Storm Watch area through this morning.
Along the coast of northeastern Florida and Georgia, tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area on Wednesday.
A “life-threatening” storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 10 to 15 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds on Grand Bahama Island.
Rainfall as a result of Dorian may cause “life-threatening” flash floods.
Large swells are also affecting the northwestern Bahamas, the Florida east coast and the coast of Georgia.
Tornadoes are possible near the immediate east coast of Florida through tonight, and this risk will shift to along the immediate coastal Georgia and the coastal Carolinas on Wednesday into Thursday.
Meanwhile devastating winds and storm surge will continue to affect Grand Bahama Island.
According to reports from CNN, the Bahamas Freeport airport is completely underwater.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed, and the death toll for Hurricane Dorian currently stands at at least five people.