Hurricane Dorian: Out of the cone but not in the clear
Hurricane Dorian remained a major hurricane Tuesday morning with 120 mph winds as it began to make its slow exit from the Bahamas and bring tropical storm-force winds into Florida.
As of 8 a.m., the Category 3 hurricane with gusts up to 150 mph was located 110 miles east-northeast of West Palm Beach and 40 miles northeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama. It has finally begun to show movement northwest at 1 mph. The storm had been stationary all morning as it was most of Monday.
The storm is projected to continue a north-northwest movement today. Florida is completely out of the the cone of uncertainty, although the size of the storm continues to send tropical storm-force gusts into the state’s coastal counties. Hurricane-force winds extend out 45 miles with tropical storm-force winds extending out 160 miles.
Sustained winds along the Treasure Coast and into Brevard County today are expected to be 30-45 mph with wind gusts of 50-60 mph possible, forecasters said. Gusts up to 75 mph could be a threat as Dorian’s outer rainbands pass over the state.
In addition, storm surges of 4 to 7 feet above normal could occur along the coast of Florida and rainfall of 4 to 8 inches with pockets of 10 inches.
The NHC’s latest track keeps it as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds and 150 mph gusts off Port St. Lucie by 2 p.m. today, passing Brevard County overnight and off St. Augustine by 2 p.m. Wednesday.
