Hurricane Dorian made landfall over the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas as one of the most powerful storms on record.
The National Hurricane Center made the call in its 12:45 p.m. update Sunday and warned that Dorian was still intensifying.
“This is a life-threatening situation. Residents there should take immediate shelter. Do not venture into the eye if it passes over your location,” the NHC said, adding that hazards include wind gusts up to 220 mph and storm surge 18 to 23 feet above normal tide levels.
Dorian became a Category 5 hurricane Sunday morning, boasting maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Those winds are now up to 185 mph as the barometric pressure of the storm continues to drop to dangerous levels.
1245pm Update: Hurricane #Dorian has made landfall at Elbow Cay, Abacos. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 185 mph with gusts over 220 mph. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/VPCBBioZzW
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 1, 2019
Category 5 is the highest designation on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale used by the U.S. government to grade hurricanes. But, as the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore pointed out, the potential wind damage for a hurricane with 185-mph winds has multiplied 1,371 times compared to a lowest-level hurricane with 75-mph winds.
Yes!!! It’s not just another category when the hurricane intensifies. https://t.co/ljrGTSkJuW
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 1, 2019
As Dorian slowly tracks west, forecasters expect it will stall of the coast of Florida. From there Dorian is expected to turn north and scrape the coast of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. All of these states have declared states of emergency.
We @WCKitchen are 80 miles from #HurricaneDorian eye & feeling this!! Imagine what the people of Abaco+Grand Bahamas will experience! Bahamas @opmthebahamas Goverment will need major help! @ClintonGlobal @RedCross @TeamRubicon …Florida should also get ready for major winds! pic.twitter.com/lIa9ghhUdk
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) September 1, 2019
Whether Dorian makes landfall over the United States. remains uncertain, but strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge remain real threats to these areas.
“We don’t know what’s coming at us,” President Trump said Sunday during a hurricane briefing by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “I ask everyone in Hurricane Dorian’s path to heed all warnings and evacuation orders from local authorities,” he added.
