ABC News(NEW YORK) — Hurricane Dorian is churning dangerously close to the Southeast coastline Wednesday, where residents from Florida to the Carolinas are bracing for powerful rains, wind and flooding.
Dorian, now a Category 2, is moving north by the Florida and Georgia coast, and might make landfall in North Carolina.
Here’s what to expect and when, according to the latest forecast:
Florida
Dorian slammed Florida with strong winds Wednesday, bringing a gust of 69 mph to New Smyrna Beach.
At 10 am Wed morning Hurricane Dorian was located about 90 mi east-northeast of Daytona Beach FL, or about 130 mi east-southeast of Jacksonville FL. Dorian has max sustained winds of 105 mph, and is moving to the north-northwest at 8 mph. pic.twitter.com/h7ijyQNcS7
— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) September 4, 2019
Please refrain from travel to observe storm-related damage. Very light damage reported in NSB.
– Several small and large trees down; Art Center Drive shown in photo.
– Very few city residents and <200 Samsula residents currently without power. Work crews are responding. pic.twitter.com/U4YpSqbzDt— City of New Smyrna Beach (@CityofNSB) September 4, 2019
The heavy rains brought flooding to the Jacksonville area.
A storm surge up to 5 feet is possible.
Flash flooding, storm surge and strong winds are all possible as Dorian moves along — but still offshore from — Florida’s east coast through Wednesday afternoon.
Georgia
Dorian moved north Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain to Savannah, Georgia, and its surrounding beaches.
Life-threatening storm surge flooding up to 5 feet is possible.
South Carolina & North Carolina
A hurricane warning is in effect is in effect for the entire North Carolina and South Carolina coastline, which will see the brunt of the storm Wednesday night through Thursday and into Friday morning.
Thursday morning, Dorian will reach Charleston — a city very vulnerable to storm surge and flooding.
Myrtle Beach to Wilmington will get hit during the day on Thursday and North Carolina’s Outer Banks will feel the brunt of the storm late Thursday into Friday morning.
Dorian might make landfall in either coastal South Carolina or North Carolina between Thursday night and Friday morning.
Regardless of landfall, Dorian will be close enough to the Carolina coasts to bring near-hurricane-force winds, storm surge and flooding — the biggest threat will likely be coastal flooding from Charleston to the Outer Banks.
The highest storm surge is expected for the South Carolina coast, where up to 8 feet is possible.
The heaviest rainfall from Dorian is expected to hit the coastal Carolinas, where up to 15 inches of rain is possible.
Virginia is even forecast to see some effects from Dorian. A tropical storm watch is in effect for southern Virginia, including Norfolk.
By Friday night, Dorian will leave the U.S. and go out to sea.
Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.