Hurricane Dorian strengthens to Category 5 storm

"Although the official track forecast does not show landfall," the advisory states, "users should not focus on the exact track since a Florida landfall is still a distinct possibility."


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  • | 8:01 a.m. September 1, 2019
Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
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Hurricane Dorian strengthened to a Category 5 storm early the morning of Sunday, Sept. 1, with sustained winds of 160 mph, according to the latest advisory by the National Hurricane Center. 

"Some fluctuations in intensity are expected, but Dorian is expected to remain a powerful storm," the 8 a.m. Sunday advisory states.

Dorian is forecast to move quite slowly over the shallow waters of the northwestern Bahamas through Monday, Sept. 3. A very slow weakening is anticipated to commence after 12 hours or so. The official intensity forecast is near the high end of the numerical guidance suite.

The hurricane is projected to continue moving westward. A high pressure ridge to the north of Dorian should maintain this westward movement through Sunday. By Sunday night, the global models show the ridge weakening, which should result in a slowing of the forward speed, with the hurricane becoming nearly stationary around 48 hours.

In two to four days, Dorian is expected to turn northward and then northeastward near the Carolinas. 

A tropical storm warning was issued for a portion of the Florida east coast.

Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are still possible along portions of the Florida east coast by the middle part of the week.

"Although the official track forecast does not show landfall," the advisory states, "users should not focus on the exact track since a Florida landfall is still a distinct possibility."

Ormond Beach sandbags 

Ormond Beach will make self-serve sand available to as many residents as possible from sunrise to sunset Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the following locations:

Nova Community Center Site: 440 N. Nova Road

Ormond Beach Sports Complex, next to ball field 5: 700 Hull Road

Limited staff will be available to help with shovels and bags from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on all days. Sand will remain after 2:30 p.m. but residents should bring their own shovels and bags at that time.

Sandbags for Palm Coast

The city of Palm Coast has an updated list of locations for sand and sandbags available for residents for Saturday, Aug. 31. Palm Coast sand stations are self-serve. Residents should bring their own shovels and be prepared to fill the bags. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per household.

The following locations have sand and sandbags at these self-service sand stations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

Indian Trails Sports Complex, 5455 Belle Terre Pkwy., Palm Coast

Seminole Woods Neighborhood Park, 350 Sesame Blvd., Palm Coast

Palm Coast Public Works Yard, 1 Wellfield Grade, off U.S. 1 just north of Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast.

Holland Park, 18 Florida Park Drive North, Palm Coast

Today is the last day for sand and sandbags in the city. Call Palm Coast Customer Service at 986-2360.

 

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