WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Lantana FL to Altamaha Sound GA
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* North of Deerfield Beach FL to south of Lantana FL
* Altamaha Sound GA to South Santee River SC
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Grand Bahama and the Abacos Islands in the northwestern Bahamas
* Jupiter Inlet FL to Ponte Vedra Beach FL
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* North of Deerfield Beach FL to Jupiter Inlet FL
* North of Ponte Vedra Beach FL to South Santee River SC
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North of Deerfield Beach FL to Jupiter Inlet FL
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* North of Golden Beach FL to Deerfield Beach FL
* Lake Okeechobee
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction
of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm
Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a
life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas
should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from
rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.
Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local
officials.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and
property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests elsewhere along the coast of the Southeast and
Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States should continue to monitor
the progress of Dorian, as additional watches may be required
tonight and Tuesday.
For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located
near latitude 26.8 North, longitude 78.4 West. Dorian remains
nearly stationary just north of Grand Bahama Island. A slow
west-northwestward motion is expected to resume overnight and
continue into early Tuesday. A turn toward the northwest is
forecast by late Tuesday, with a northeastward motion forecast to
begin by Wednesday night. On this track, the core of extremely
dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama
Island into Tuesday morning. The hurricane will then move
dangerously close to the Florida east coast late Tuesday through
Wednesday evening and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and
South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher
gusts. This intensity estimate is based on data from the NOAA and
Air Force Hurricane Hunters. Dorian is a category 4 hurricane
on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Although gradual
weakening is forecast, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful
hurricane during the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150
miles (240 km). Sustained winds of 57 mph (93 km/h) with a gust to
68 mph (109 km/h) was recently reported at a NOAA Coastal Marine
observing site at Settlement Point on the west end of Grand Bahama
Island.
The minimum central pressure of 942 mb (27.82 inches) is based on
data provided by the NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunters.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Devastating hurricane conditions continue on Grand Bahama
Island. Do not venture out into the eye, as winds will suddenly
increase after the eye passes.
Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area
in Florida by Tuesday. Hurricane conditions are possible in the
Hurricane Watch area beginning Wednesday.
Tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm
warning area through Tuesday, and are possible in the Tropical
Storm watch area by tonight.
STORM SURGE: A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels
by as much as 12 to 18 feet above normal tide levels in areas of
onshore winds on Grand Bahama Island. Near the coast, the surge
will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Water levels
should very slowly subside on the Abaco Islands during the day.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause
normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters
moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the
following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Lantana FL to South Santee River SC...4 to 7 ft
North of Deerfield Beach FL to Lantana FL...2 to 4 ft
Water levels could begin to rise well in advance of the arrival of
strong winds. The surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the how close
the center of Dorian comes to the coast, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
RAINFALL: Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
totals through late this week:
Northwestern Bahamas...Additional 6 to 12 inches, isolated storm
totals of 30 inches.
Central Bahamas...Additional 1 to 3 inches, isolated storm totals
of 6 inches.
Coastal Carolinas...5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.
Atlantic Coast from the Florida peninsula through Georgia...4 to 8
inches, isolated 10 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.
SURF: Large swells are affecting the northwestern Bahamas, the
Florida east coast, and the coast of Georgia. These swells are
expected to spread northward along much of the remainder of the
southeastern United States coast during the next couple of days.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather
office.
TORNADOES: Isolated tornadoes are possible through Tuesday along
the eastern coast of Florida.
NEXT ADVISORY
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Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.