This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Category 5 Storm Brings Catastrophic Winds ¶
As Hurricane Dorian approached the Abaco Islands in the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned of catastrophic winds of up to 160 miles per hour, making it a devastating storm.
The storm was moving westward at a speed of 8 miles per hour, with a storm surge of up to 15 to 20 feet possible, and as much as 25 inches of rain expected to fall before the storm passes.
Forecasters expect the storm to turn northward, raking the coast of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, with strong winds and heavy rains, storm surge, and punishing surf potentially causing major damage.
The National Hurricane Center posted a tropical storm watch for the Florida coast from Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet, with heavy rains and life-threatening flash floods possible.
Despite the storm warnings, families continued to arrive in Orlando for their vacations to Walt Disney World, with some visitors even joking about the potential for the storm to sweep up the park's replica of the Millennium Falcon.
The governors of North and South Carolina have declared states of emergencies ahead of the storm, with the National Hurricane Center warning that the storm may make landfall near Cape Fear, N.C. on Thursday or Friday, with winds of up to 80 miles per hour and coastal areas receiving as much as 10 inches of rain.
