Hurricane Dorian, as of Monday, boasted 165 mph sustained winds with 200 mph gusts as meteorologists call for Central Florida residents to be on high alert following record-setting damage in the Bahamas.
"Impacts here in Central Florida will depend on how close the storm gets but, all residents in Central Florida should be prepared and vigilant as any movement to the West would bring bigger impacts to the Central Florida area," Jayme King, a WOFL-Fox 35 meteorologist, toldThe Orlando Sentinel of what's expected in the coming days.
The Weather Channelsaid early Monday that the Category 5 Dorian had stalled as it continued hitting the northwestern Bahamas, where it became the first hurricane of such intensity to make Grand Bahama Island landfall following landfalls in the Abacos Islands over the weekend.
Though the exact track remains uncertain, current predictions state that, by Wednesday, Dorian is projected to have moved north and then northeastward near Florida, Georgia, and the tip of South Carolina.
Bahamas media has confirmed one death connected to the storm. As the storm's path continues to be watched closely, experts are also warning that tornadoes are possible in Central Florida later Monday. A hurricane warning is in effect from Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County to the Volusia-Flagler county line.
Those in the possible path of the storm are encouraged to keep tabs on local and national weather updates, with meteorologists urging residents to take warnings and related storm advice seriously to avoid further catastrophe.
