Dorian has slowed to a crawl as it moves over Grand Bahama Island. They will endure hurricane conditions nearly all day as Dorian is only moving west at 1 mph. It remains a category 5 storm with 165 mph winds and higher gusts. The winds and storm surge of 18 to 23ft will devastate the island.

The track continues to keep the center of Dorian offshore as it parallels the east coast of Florida, but it will be close. Tampa Bay is looking at minimal impacts with gusty winds Tuesday and Wednesday and scattered storms. Eastern Polk and Highlands counties may see a few tropical storm force wind gusts, but the greatest impacts will remain closer to the east coast.

Hurricane watches and warnings are in place along the east coast. Dorian is a slow moving storm and will generate large waves and surge along the east coast for nearly 2 days. Beach erosion and coastal flooding are likely. It will steadily weaken as it moves north through the middle of the week.

Hurricane force winds extend 45 miles out from the center and the strongest winds will remain on the east side of the storm. Currently Dorian is siting about 100 miles east of West Palm Beach. The closer Dorian’s track shifts towards land the greater wind, storm surge, and heavier rain the east coast will experience.

Our focus is on Dorian but we are watching other areas in the tropics as well. The wave in the Gulf of Mexico is better organized than yesterday and may become a tropical depression in the next few days. But it is headed away from Florida and moving west toward the coast of Mexico. A trough of low pressure to the east of Dorian continues to show signs of organization and gradual development is possible as it moves north towards Bermuda. The area in red is showing signs of organization and located about 300 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. A tropical depression is expected to form in the next day or so as it moves northwestward in the Atlantic. The area in yellow off the African coast, is associated with a tropical wave expected to develop and head west towards the Cabo Verde Islands.

Dorian is still a category 5 hurricane with 165 mph winds and gusts to 200 mph. It has become almost stationary over Grand Bahama island only moving west at 1 mph. The islands will continue to see hurricane force winds for the next 18 to 24 hours. They are also dealing with dangerous storm surge of 18 to 23 feet above normal tide levels with higher destructive waves.

The latest track continues to keep the center of Dorian offshore as it parallels the east coast. It will still be a powerful category 4 storm with steady weakening as it moves northwest.

Georgia and Carolina coastlines should closely monitor the progress of Dorian as they could see impacts later this week.

On Dorian’s current path with the center passing east of the coastline, Tampa Bay is looking at gusty 30 mph winds and tropical downpours Tuesday. Polk & Highlands counties are under tropical storm watches for the potential of tropical storm force wind gusts.

The most significant impacts will be felt along the east coast as hurricane force winds extend out 45 miles from the center. A shift further to the east will lessen the impacts of storm surge, coastal flooding and wind speeds. But the closer to the coastline it passes the greater the impacts will be.

Storm surge watches and warnings are posted for the east coast. From Jacksonville to West Palm Beach they could see 4 to 7 feet storm surge. While Fort Lauderdale to north of Boca Raton  is looking at potentially 2 to 4 foot storm surge.

The ridge that has been steering Dorian westward has weakened, causing the slowdown over the northwest Bahamas. A trough heading to the east coast will help steer it northwest and then northeast.