Operation Storm Watch

Operation Storm Watch

The latest hurricane updates and resources

 

5 AM Advisory: Cat 3 Dorian Stationary in Grand Bahamas at 120 MPH

The eyewall of the catastophic now Category 3 Hurricane Dorian is currently hovering over Grand Bahama Island with devastating winds, life-threatening storm surge and very heavy rainfall. It's currently stationary but still expected to gradually make a turn to the Northwest. Five people are confirmed dead and many more are unaccounted for in the Bahamas.

Dorian should move closer to Florida's east later today and into tomorrow. Floridians should prepare for severe weather including destructive wind gusts, heavy rains, and potential flooding. Mandatory evacuations started Sunday morning in some counties and zones along Florida's east coast including parts of Palm Beach County.

Evacuations are underway in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.

5AM WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued north of Ponte Vedra Beach

Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Lantana FL to Savannah River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* North of Deerfield Beach FL to south of Lantana FL

* Savannah River 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

* North of Ponte Vedra Beach FL to Altamaha Sound GA

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 southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts of

the United States should continue to monitor the progress of Dorian,

as additional watches or warnings may be required today.

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 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located

by NOAA Doppler radar near latitude 26.9 North, longitude 78.4 West.

Dorian is stationary just north of Grand Bahama Island. A slow

north-northwestward motion is expected to begin this morning. A

turn to 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 continue to pound

Grand Bahama Island today. 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.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher

gusts. Dorian is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson

Hurricane Wind Scale. 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 160

miles (260 km). A wind gust to 61 mph (98 km/h) was recently

reported at Juno Beach Pier, Florida.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 950 mb (28.06 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

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WIND: Devastating hurricane conditions continue on Grand Bahama

Island.

Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area

in Florida by this evening. Hurricane conditions are possible in

the Hurricane Watch area beginning 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.

STORM SURGE: 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. Near the coast, the surge

will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Water levels

should very slowly subside on the Abaco Islands today.

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 Friday:

Northwestern Bahamas...Additional 3 to 6 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...3 to 6 inches, isolated 9 inches.

Southeast Virginia...2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 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: A tornado or two is possible near the immediate east

coast of Florida through tonight. This risk will shift to immediate

coastal Georgia and the coastal Carolinas on Wednesday into

Thursday.

NEXT ADVISORY

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Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM EDT.

Next complete advisory at 1100 AM EDT.


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