Florida declares State of Emergency as Tropical Storm Dorian becomes Hurricane
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Tropical Storm Dorian officially became Hurricane Dorian on Wednesday, its sustained winds topping 80 mph hitting Puerto Rico and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands before heading northwest. Forecasters are now warning that the storm will strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane as it nears the U.S. mainland.
“Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday. On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas on Thursday and Friday,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. ET report.
“All indications are that by this Labor Day weekend, a powerful hurricane will be near or over the Florida peninsula,” the National Hurricane Center said at 5 p.m. ET.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 26 counties in the path of the hurricane.
The eye of Hurricane Dorian was located about 60 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as of Wednesday night.
“The Hurricane Warning for Vieques, Culebra, and the U.S. Virgin Islands has been discontinued,” the National Hurricane Center report added. “The Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning for Puerto Rico have been discontinued.”
