Community Chat

[Mindy D]

Take a look at that well formed eye. 

1. 

Some winds were clocked 155-160 ⬆️ There is the possibility of upgrade to Cat 5. Must wait and see what upcoming report says.

000
WTNT35 KNHC 312340
TCPAT5

BULLETIN
Hurricane Dorian Intermediate Advisory Number 30A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL052019
800 PM EDT Sat Aug 31 2019

...NOAA AND AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REAFFIRM DORIAN'S
CATEGORY FOUR STRENGTH...


SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...26.2N 74.7W
ABOUT 155 MI...245 KM E OF GREAT ABACO ISLAND
ABOUT 335 MI...540 KM E OF WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150 MPH...240 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 275 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...941 MB...27.79 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Andros Island

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet

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 Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in southern and central Florida should continue
to monitor the progress of Dorian.  Additional watches may be
required for portions of the east coast of Florida tonight or
Sunday.

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
----------------------
At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the distinct eye of Hurricane Dorian was
located near latitude 26.2 North, longitude 74.7 West. Dorian is
moving toward the west near 8 mph (13 km/h), and a slower westward
motion should continue for the next day or two, followed by a
gradual turn toward the northwest. On this track, the core of Dorian
should be near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas on
Sunday, and move closer to the Florida east coast late Monday
through Tuesday.

Data from NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate
that the maximum sustained winds remain near 150 mph (240 km/h)
with higher gusts.  Dorian remains a category 4 hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity
are likely, but Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane
during the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105
miles (165 km).

The latest minimum central pressure reported by reconnaissance
aircraft is 941 mb (27.79 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND:  Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning
area across the northwestern Bahamas by Sunday, with tropical storm
winds beginning tonight.

Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm
watch area on Monday.

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 the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island. Near the
coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

RAINFALL:  Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
accumulations this weekend into the middle of next week:

Northwestern Bahamas...10 to 15 inches, isolated 25 inches.
Coastal sections of the southeast United States...4 to 8 inches,
isolated 12 inches.
Central Bahamas...2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.

This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.

SURF:  Swells will begin affect the east-facing shores of the
Bahamas, the Florida east coast, and the southeastern United States
coast during the next few days.  These swells are likely to cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please consult
products from your local weather office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.

$$
Forecaster Brown/Cangialosi

COMPLETE 5:00 P.M. Advisory below

000
WTNT45 KNHC 312052
TCDAT5

Hurricane Dorian Discussion Number  30
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL052019
500 PM EDT Sat Aug 31 2019

Dorian's satellite presentation continues to be outstanding. The
eye has remained very distinct and is surrounded by a ring of very
deep convection.  The latest information from the Air Force plane
before it departed Dorian supports keeping an initial intensity of
130 kt. Dorian is forecast to move over a deep layer of very warm
waters, and with the prevailing low shear along the hurricane's
path, some additional strengthening is possible during the next day
or so.  Most likely, however, the hurricane will experience some
fluctuations in intensity due to eyewall replacement cycles that are
difficult to predict. Beyond 3 days, as the hurricane begins to gain
latitude and encounters increasing shear, gradual weakening is
anticipated, but Dorian will remain a dangerous hurricane through 5
days.

The best estimate of the initial motion is toward the west or 280
degrees at 8 kt.  The hurricane is being steered by the weak flow to
the south of the ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic.
In about a day or two, most of the global models shift the high
eastward and deepen a trough over the eastern United States.
Consequently, the steering currents should collapse and Dorian
is anticipated to drift toward the northwest and north-northwest
while is moving over the northwestern Bahamas and near the east
coast of Florida.  After that time, the hurricane should begin to
move a little faster northward as the trough over the eastern U.S
deepens and should then steer the hurricane toward the northeast by
the end of the forecast period.

The guidance has not changed significantly since the earlier run, so
it has not been necessary to adjust the NHC forecast in this
advisory. The uncertainty in the track is high while the hurricane
is moving slowly across the northwestern Bahamas and near the east
coast of Florida.  Any deviation of Dorian's core to the left would
result in an increase in the winds along the east coast of Florida.

Given that the area of tropical storm force winds could expand, and
taking into account the uncertainty in the track forecast, a
tropical storm watch was issued for the east of Florida from
Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet.

Key Messages:

1. A prolonged period of life-threatening storm surge, devastating
hurricane-force winds, and heavy rains capable of life-threatening
flash floods are expected on the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama
Sunday through Monday, and a hurricane warning is in effect for
these areas.

2. A tropical storm watch is in effect for a portion of the Florida
east coast. Since Dorian is forecast to slow down and turn northward
as it approaches the coast, life-threatening storm surge and
dangerous hurricane-force winds are still possible along portions of
the Florida east coast by the early to middle part of next week.
Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, know if they
are in a hurricane evacuation zone, and listen to advice given by
local emergency officials.

3. There is an increasing risk of strong winds and dangerous storm
surge along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North
Carolina during the middle of next week. Residents in these areas
should continue to monitor the progress of Dorian.

4. Heavy rains, capable of life-threatening flash floods, are
possible over coastal sections of the southeastern United States
from Sunday through much of next week.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  31/2100Z 26.2N  74.4W  130 KT 150 MPH
 12H  01/0600Z 26.4N  75.7W  135 KT 155 MPH
 24H  01/1800Z 26.6N  77.0W  130 KT 150 MPH
 36H  02/0600Z 26.8N  78.0W  125 KT 145 MPH
 48H  02/1800Z 27.2N  78.5W  120 KT 140 MPH
 72H  03/1800Z 28.3N  79.1W  110 KT 125 MPH
 96H  04/1800Z 31.0N  80.0W   95 KT 110 MPH
120H  05/1800Z 34.0N  77.0W   85 KT 100 MPH

$$
Forecaster Avila/Brennan

C