Dorian Becomes A Hurricane near St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Wed, Aug 28th 2019, 02:19 PM

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Vieques and Culebra, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Puerto Rico. Hurricane conditions are ongoing over portions of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and are expected over Vieques, Culebra, and the British Virgin Islands today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Puerto Rico this afternoon and tonight.

NHC has upgraded Dorian to a hurricane as of 2 p.m. AST/EDT, and is centered at that time over St. Thomas Island. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next day or two. On this track, Dorian should continue to move near or over the U.S. and British Virgin Islands this afternoon and then move over the open Atlantic well east of the southeastern Bahamas.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 20 miles (30 km) to the north and east of the center. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) primarily to the east of the center. An elevated weather station on Buck Island just south of St. Thomas reported a sustained wind of 82 mph (132 km/h) and a gust of 111 mph (178 km/h). Dorian is forecast to continue strengthening during the next few days over the Atlantic waters.

Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations:

Northern Leeward Islands...1 to 3 inches.

Eastern Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the northwest

Bahamas...4 to 6 inches, isolated 10 inches

Western Puerto Rico and the central Bahamas...2 to 4 inches

Coastal sections of the Southeast United States...4 to 8 inches, isolated 10 inches.

This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.

The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 5 p.m. AST/EDT - www.hurricanes.gov

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