hurricane update from NHC Hurricane dorian advisory 6

..EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE DORIAN POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO FLORIDA AND THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS...
...HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE FINDS DORIAN IS NOW A MAJOR HURRICANE...

A Hurricane Watch continues for the Northwest Bahamas. Hurricane conditions are possible in the northwestern Bahamas by Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Interests in southern and central Florida should monitor the progress of Dorian. Life-threatening storm surge and devastating hurricane-force winds are likely along portions of the Florida east coast by early next week, but it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge and winds will occur. Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, know if they are in a hurricane evacuation zone, and listen to advice given by local emergency officials.

Hurricane Dorian is centered as of 2 p.m. AST/EDT about 625 miles (1005 km) east of West Palm Beach, Fla. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A slower west- northwestward to westward motion should begin tonight and continue into early next week. On this track, the core of Dorian should move over the Atlantic well north of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and tomorrow, be near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, and be near the Florida peninsula late Monday.

Data from a reconnaissance plane indicate that with maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Dorian is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km). Additional strengthening is forecast, and Dorian is anticipated to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane while it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula into early next week.

A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 10 to 15 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds in the northwestern Bahamas. Near the coast,the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
accumulations this weekend into the middle of next week:
Northwestern Bahamas and coastal sections of the Southeast
United States...6 to 12 inches, isolated 18 inches.
Central Bahamas...1 to 2 inches, isolated 4 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