Hurricane Dorian strengthens to Category 5, makes landfall in the Bahamas

September 1, 2019

In an advisory issued at 11:00 a.m. local time today (1500 ) the (NHC) reported  in the Caribbean had strengthened into a. Dorian reached the Bahamas earlier today, making landfall in. It was accompanied by a "life-threatening" 18 to 23 (5.5 to 7 ) storm surge.

The NHC also warned of potential, with up to 30 (76 ) of rain in northwestern parts of the Bahamas. Prime Minister urged residents to evacuate.

After passing over the Bahamas, Dorian was forecast to reach the eastern coast of the United States late on Monday or early Tuesday. The NHC issued a hurricane warning in the northwestern Bahamas and hurricane watch for.

Last week, Florida  declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Dorian, with South Carolina Governor  following suit yesterday. in Florida issued an evacuation order to some residents, effective 1 p.m. on Sunday, after the NHC placed Palm Beach County under a tropical storm warning.

A Category 5 hurricane is a form of tropical cyclone. On the used by the NHC for classifying tropical cyclones, at Category 5, "catastrophic damage will occur". The wind speed cut-off for Category 5 hurricanes is 157 miles per hour (mph); the NHC advisory indicated Dorian's maximum sustained winds were near 180 (285 ).