hurricane update from NHC Hurricane dorian advisory 13

..EYE OF CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE DORIAN OVER THE ABACOS ISLANDS IN THE BAHAMAS...
...HEADING WITH ALL ITS FURY TOWARD GRAND BAHAMA...

A Hurricane Warning continues for the Northwest Bahamas excluding Andros Island. A Hurricane Watch continues for Andros Island and along the Florida east coast from north of Deerfield Beach to the Volusia/Brevard County Line. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from north of Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from north of Golden Beach to Deerfield Beach and Lake Okeechobee. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from north of Deerfield Beach to the Volusia/Brevard County Line. Interests elsewhere along the east coast of Florida should continue to monitor the progress of Dorian, as additional watches or warnings may be required later today.

Catastrophic hurricane conditions are occurring in the Abacos Islands and will spread across Grand Bahama Island later today and tonight. Do not venture out into the eye, as winds will suddenly increase as the eye passes. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area in Florida by late Monday or early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning area on Monday and Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area by Monday night.

Hurricane Dorian is centered as of 2 p.m EDT was over Great Abaco Island and about 185 miles (295 km) east of West Palm Beach, Florida. Dorian is moving toward the west near 7 mph (11 km/h). A slower westward motion should continue for the next day or two, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest. On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Great Abaco today and the move near or over Grand Bahama Island tonight and Monday. The hurricane should move closer to the Florida east coast late Monday through Tuesday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 185 mph (295 km/h) with higher gusts. Dorian is a extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely, and Dorian is expected to remain a catastrophic hurricane during the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). The minimum central pressure measured by both NOAA and Air Force reconnaissance plane was 911 mb (26.90 inches).

A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 18 to 23 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds on the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the Florida east coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Volusia/Brevard County Line to Jupiter Inlet FL...4 to 7 ft
North of Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet FL...2 to 4 ft

Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
totals through late this week:
Northwestern Bahamas...12 to 24 inches, isolated 30 inches.
Coastal Carolinas...5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.
Central Bahamas & the Atlantic Coast from the Florida peninsula through Georgia...2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.

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